Andy Burnham will use one of his first major acts as Prime Minister to signal that Britain’s support for Ukraine will remain a central pillar of his government’s foreign policy, welcoming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street just days after taking office.
The meeting is designed to demonstrate continuity in Britain’s approach to the war, with No 10 stressing that Kyiv’s defence remains a priority under the new administration.
During the visit, the two leaders are expected to travel to a naval base where Burnham will announce that Britain is handing Ukraine the intellectual property behind its new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system.
The tablet-sized device, developed in Britain and already deployed on the battlefield, is designed to protect drones by disrupting Russian detection systems. Allowing Ukraine to manufacture the technology itself could significantly increase the scale of production and strengthen Kyiv’s ability to operate in heavily contested airspace.
Thousands of the systems have already been supplied to Ukrainian forces by the Ministry of Defence, helping support drone operations against Russian positions.
“Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering,” Burnham said. “Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve.”
The move forms part of a wider British effort to expand Ukraine’s military capabilities, including next-generation long-range strike programmes such as Project Brakestop, aimed at developing more affordable cruise missile technology.
The leaders will also meet Ukrainian troops who have been training in Britain during Exercise Sea Breeze, focused on improving battlefield skills and counter-mine capabilities in the Black Sea region.
For Burnham, the visit carries significance beyond military assistance. With limited foreign policy experience compared with previous prime ministers, his early engagement with Zelenskyy represents an attempt to reassure allies that Britain’s strategic commitment to Ukraine will not weaken after a change of government.
The message to Moscow is clear: despite political change in London, Britain’s support for Kyiv remains a long-term commitment.
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