Burnham’s Visit to Ukraine: Delivering a ‘Blueprint’ for Long-Range Missiles to Zelensky

During his first foreign trip as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. In Kyiv, he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to hand over the ‘blueprints’ for long-range missiles.

Prime Minister Burnham will also chair a meeting of the alliance established by his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s administration, aimed at coordinating support for Ukraine jointly with France. Representing the British people, Burnham announced that he will accept an award from Ukraine, honoring the support provided by the UK.

In a move crucial to the ongoing conflict, Burnham’s government will announce an agreement to share classified information on UK components used in the ‘SCALP’ missile, produced by defense manufacturer MBDA. The SCALP missile is made in France and is similar to the UK’s ‘Storm Shadow’ missile.

Marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, Burnham affirmed, “The Ukrainian people should never doubt that the UK stands with you today, no matter how long it takes.” He described Russia’s war as “illegal” and emphasized the longstanding friendship between Ukraine and the UK.