Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the UK on Monday where he and new prime minister Andy Burnhamdiscussed continued defense cooperation. The two visited some 200 Ukrainian service members training with UK troops at Portsmouth Naval Base.
The Ukrainian forces have been sharpening their war-fighting and countermining measures for operations in the Black Sea.
Speaking in Portsmouth, Burnham said, “Volodymyr, you are the first leader I have welcomed in person since taking office and that is no accident.”
“It is intended to send a very clear message,” the new prime minister added, “We are with Ukraine 100%, I am personally with you 100%, and I will honor every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full.”
Posting on X after the meeting, Zelenskyy wrote: “We greatly appreciate that our team is the first to visit the United Kingdom since Andy Burnham took office. This is an important signal of support, and the Prime Minister assured us that this support remains unwavering.”
UK providing new radar jamming technology to aid deep strike capabilities
Burnham announced that the UK is now providing Kyiv with access to its “Stone Cloak” electronic jamming technology, with thousands of the jammers already given to Kyiv according to Downing Street.
When affixed to drones, the battle-tested, tablet-sized Stone Cloak jammers can shield weapons from Russian air-defense systems detection, providing Kyiv with more lethal long-distance strike capabilities.
“Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries,” Burnham said.
The deal comes as Ukraine has shifted from a purely defensive posture and increased its attacks on sites deep within Russia, notably its targeting of oil, military and logistics installations.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy told UK broadcaster Sky News that he hoped to sign a strong “drone deal” with Burnham to boost drone production capacity and technology sharing, adding, “we don’t have enough missiles” to defend against Russia’s continued air attacks.
Russia, said Zelenskyy, “can increase the production of ballistic missile missiles and that’s why we need air defense as soon as possible.”
UK support for Kyiv continues despite a revolving cast of prime ministers
Zelenskyy’s visit is Burnham’s first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader since taking over at Downing Street last week and comes as the Ukrainian prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Burnham assured Zelenskyy of the UK’s “unwavering support” as Kyiv defends itself against a more than four-year Russian invasion.
“Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering,” according to a statement.
“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy described ties with the UK as “the strongest relationship in the entire history” of the two nations.
Prior to the meeting, Downing Street said Burnham — the fifth prime minister that Zelenskyy has dealt with since Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on February 24, 2022 — would pledge “to continue the unbreakable bond between the two nations.”
Downing Street on Monday said that the UK had provided some 25 billion pounds (€29 billion ,$33 billion) in assistance to Ukraine since the war began, 16 billion of which were given in direct military assistance.
Zelenskyy to meet with Trump
From the UK, Zelenskyy will travel to Washington, where he will meet with US President Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
Support from Trump, who is currently bogged down in his own war with Iran, has wavered during his time in office and the two leaders have had a famously contentious relationship.
Trump did, however, recently announce that Kyiv could be given permission to build US Patriot missile systems as Russian air assaults continue unabated.
In his Sunday Sky News interview, Zelenskyy expressed understanding for Trump’s predicament, saying, “I understand the United States is focussing on the Middle East,” adding that he would, “try to manage it [the war in Ukraine] with some Europeans and with Americans and with some other countries.”
“This,” he said, is “a big challenge,” both for himself and for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy did get an important bit of assistance from lawmakers in Washington recently when Congress advanced bipartisan legislation targeting countries purchasing Russian energy, potentially making it harder for the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin to finance its ongoing war.
While in Washington, Zelenskyy is also expected to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a key proponent of US support for Ukraine who died unexpectedly earlier this month after returning from Kyiv.
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
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