“After all, Ukraine’s security is our security”, said British Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Photo: AP).
During Zelenskyy’s earlier visit to the UK, London also announced plans to share information on its battle-tested electronic jammers known as “Stone Cloak”. The tablet-sized systems can be attached to drones and are designed to disrupt Russian air defence systems, making it harder for them to track and target the weapons in flight, according to the UK prime minister’s office. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv on Monday as Ukraine marks its 35th Independence Day, making it his first international trip since taking office last month.
The UK was the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons in 2023, according to the prime minister’s office. The UN General Assembly is scheduled to take place from September 22 to 28. Earlier reporting noted: The visit, if confirmed, would be Burnham’s first trip to the US since becoming prime minister in July.
During his visit, Burnham is expected to announce government approval allowing defence company MBDA to release classified information and British components linked to SCALP long-range missiles to Ukraine, according to a statement from the UK prime minister’s office. Earlier reporting noted: Burnham told Bloomberg in an interview that he was “looking forward to going to New York in September”, although Downing Street said plans for the trip had not yet been finalised. SCALP is the French version of the Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile and is jointly produced by Britain and France. It would also allow him to meet Trump and other world leaders during the annual gathering in New York.
Earlier reporting noted: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is expected to travel to New York next month for the UN General Assembly, possibly setting up a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump as London seeks stronger international support for Ukraine.
Burnham is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair his first meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”, an alliance of 34 countries formed by the UK and France in 2025 to support Ukraine with long-term military assistance, defence cooperation and post-ceasefire security guarantees. “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes”, Burnham said ahead of his visit.