Burnham to Visit Kyiv on First Foreign Trip and Reaffirm UK Support for Ukraine
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By Henry Moore
(Reuters) - Andy Burnham will mark his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv on Monday to reiterate the UK's support for Ukraine and honor the country's independence day.
The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing," established by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. He is also expected to accept an award recognizing the UK's support for Ukraine on behalf of the British people and participate in independence day events.
Burnham will reaffirm the UK's backing for Kyiv in response to escalating Russian strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, including one on a shopping center on Friday that killed at least 16 people.
Prior to his visit on Monday, Burnham stated:
"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."
He added:
"I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine, and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine's security is our security."
Burnham emphasized the enduring friendship between Ukraine and the UK, asserting that it "long outlasts Russia's illegal war" and warning:
"Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."
This visit follows Moscow's warnings regarding the use of British drones by Ukraine in its recent intensification of strikes on Russian infrastructure. Kyiv has stepped up long-range attacks targeting oil refineries and warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries.
The Russian embassy in the UK accused Britain of "deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis," stating: "the deeper its involvement... the higher the price it will pay."
Last week, Burnham responded:
"We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine's hour of need, and that won't change."
Regarding the Russian threat, Burnham maintained that the UK is committed to providing support to enable Ukraine to defend itself.
He also announced that the government has approved declassification of information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French equivalent of the UK's Storm Shadow – by defense company MBDA.