LONDON: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will travel to Kyiv today for his first overseas visit since taking office, reaffirming the United Kingdom’s support for Ukraine as the country marks its 35th Independence Day.
Burnham is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chair his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, an initiative established by Britain and France under his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.
Burnham to visit Kyiv on first foreign trip and reaffirm UK support for Ukraine https://t.co/wOr7jEOCpG
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 23, 2026
The prime minister will also participate in Ukrainian Independence Day events and accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support for Kyiv.
Burnham Kyiv visit reaffirms UK support for Ukraine
Ahead of the visit, Burnham said Ukrainians should have no doubt that Britain would continue standing behind them “for as long as it takes”.
“I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver,” Burnham said, adding that Ukraine’s security was closely linked to Britain’s own security.
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His visit comes amid escalating Russian strikes on Ukraine and increased Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and warehouses.
Moscow has also warned Britain of “consequences” over Ukraine’s use of British drones. The Russian embassy in London accused the UK of escalating the conflict and warned that deeper British involvement would come at a higher cost.
Burnham rejected the warning, saying Britain was helping Ukraine defend itself and would remain committed to securing a “just and lasting peace”.
During the visit, Burnham is also expected to announce that the government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information about British components used in the long-range Scalp missile.
The move could support French President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to establish local assembly lines for Scalp missiles in Ukraine. Scalp and Britain’s Storm Shadow missiles share British and French technology.
Zelensky was the first foreign leader welcomed to Downing Street after Burnham became prime minister in July.
