Burnham Visits Kyiv to Reaffirm UK Support for Ukraine
Andy Burnham, marking his first foreign visit as prime minister, is traveling to Kyiv to reiterate the UK's support for Ukraine and honor the country's independence day.
Key Points:
- Coalition of the Willing: Burnham will chair his inaugural meeting of the "coalition of the willing," established by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
- Recognition and Support: He will accept an award on behalf of the British people acknowledging the UK's support for Ukraine and participate in independence day celebrations.
- Escalating Russian Strikes: Burnham's visit comes in response to escalating Russian strikes on Ukraine, including a recent attack on a shopping center that killed at least 16 people.
- Unwavering Support: In a statement before his visit, Burnham emphasized the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine, stating, "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 also addressed recent Russian warnings about the use of British drones by Ukraine, reiterating that "We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."
He further announced the UK's agreement to declassify information on UK components for the Scalp missile, a long-range weapon shared by the UK and France.