Andy Burnham said UK support for Ukraine will continue as he hosted Volodymyr Zelensky for his first overseas visit since taking office.
Andy Burnham used the phrase Ukraine support to underline his message on Monday, saying the UK is “with Ukraine 100%” as President Volodymyr Zelensky made his first international visit since entering No 10. The meeting at a naval base in Portsmouth was meant to signal that Britain’s backing for Kyiv will continue under the new prime minister.
Burnham said the visit was intended to send a clear message about the UK’s position. Speaking directly to Zelensky, he said Ukraine could count on him and on the United Kingdom “for as long as it takes.” He also told the Ukrainian president he was personally “100%” behind him and would honour every commitment Britain has made to Ukraine in full.
Zelensky said the relationship between the two countries was “stronger than ever.” He later wrote on X that he appreciated the pledge that support for Ukraine and its people would stay steadfast. Burnham said he expected to travel to Ukraine soon after what he described as a very warm meeting.
The visit was not only about public messaging. Burnham also announced that the UK would share the intellectual property behind its new Stone Cloak electronic warfare system, a move that would allow Ukraine to produce the technology on a larger scale. According to Burnham, that would help Ukraine strike targets and save lives. The Stone Cloak jammers are described as tablet-sized devices designed to block drones from being detected when fitted to them.
The Ministry of Defence has already supplied thousands of the devices to Ukrainian forces to support their drone operations. Downing Street said the technology will also be built into the UK’s next generation of long-range weapons after being used in Ukraine. That future work includes Project Brakestop, a government programme focused on low-cost cruise missiles, which are guided weapons that travel much like aircraft for much of their flight.
“Andy Burnham said UK support for Ukraine will continue as he hosted Volodymyr Zelensky for his first overseas visit since taking office.”
Burnham and Zelensky also met more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the past three weeks in the UK taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze. The maritime exercise is aimed at improving warfighting skills and counter-mine operations in the Black Sea, showing that Britain’s support is not limited to speeches and funding, but extends into training and battlefield capability.
In his remarks, Burnham said the UK would support efforts to secure a “full and unconditional ceasefire.” He said Britain would keep pressing for negotiations, but insisted Ukraine must be at the table and Europe must have a strong voice as well. The message reflected a familiar British line since Russia’s invasion four years ago, when the UK committed £25bn to Ukraine’s warfighting effort.
The backdrop matters because Burnham’s call to Zelensky was one of his first after becoming prime minister last Monday, and he invited him to visit the UK at the earliest chance. His predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, had made a final visit to Kyiv before leaving office, where he announced £255m in fresh funding and received Ukraine’s Order of Freedom. For American readers, the key point is that Britain is keeping pressure on Russia while deepening military ties with Kyiv, and the next test will be whether that support holds steady as leadership shifts in London and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
What did Burnham say about UK support for Ukraine?
He said Ukraine could count on him and the United Kingdom “for as long as it takes.” He also said he was personally “100%” behind Zelensky and would honor Britain’s commitments in full.
What new military technology support did the UK announce?
The UK said it would share the intellectual property behind its Stone Cloak electronic warfare system. That would let Ukraine produce the technology at larger scale.
What is Stone Cloak used for?
Stone Cloak jammers are tablet-sized devices designed to block drones from being detected when fitted to them. Burnham said the system would help Ukraine strike targets and save lives.
What was Exercise Sea Breeze?
It was a maritime exercise in the UK involving more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel. The article says it was aimed at improving warfighting skills and counter-mine operations in the Black Sea.
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