UK PM Andy Burnham Hosts Zelenskyy, Reaffirms Britain's Support for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with newly elected UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday in his first official visit to Britain since Burnham took office, underscoring London's continued support for Ukraine as the war with Russia enters another critical phase.
The meeting, held at a naval base in Portsmouth, comes ahead of Zelenskyy's scheduled talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where Ukraine's defense and future military support are expected to feature prominently.
Burnham Reaffirms Britain's Commitment
Burnham said the visit demonstrates the United Kingdom's "unwavering" commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russia's ongoing invasion.
The British leader stressed that the UK would continue backing Kyiv until a lasting and just peace is achieved, signaling continuity in Britain's Ukraine policy despite the recent change in leadership.
Zelenskyy's visit marks the first by a foreign leader since Burnham became prime minister.
UK Expands Military Support
During the visit, Zelenskyy and Burnham met more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel participating in training exercises in Britain.
The program focuses on improving combat capabilities and strengthening mine-countermeasure operations in the Black Sea.
The UK government also announced it will provide Ukraine with the intellectual property behind its new "Stone Cloak" electronic warfare system, designed to help jam enemy air defense systems and improve drone survivability during military operations.
Fighting Intensifies Across Ukraine and Russia
The diplomatic meeting comes as Russia and Ukraine continue exchanging large-scale drone attacks.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia launched more than 140 long-range drones overnight, with air defenses intercepting the majority of them. Several regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, reported casualties and infrastructure damage.
Meanwhile, Russia said it intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight while reporting damage in several regions, including Rostov-on-Don and Belgorod.
Both sides have intensified long-range strikes targeting logistics hubs, military infrastructure, and energy facilities.
Iran Condemns Ukrainian Strike
Tensions also escalated after Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, claiming the strike killed a crew member.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack and warned that it would not go unanswered.
Ukraine defended its long-range operations, saying recent strikes targeted military assets and logistics supporting Russia's war effort, while rejecting Iran's accusations.
Diplomatic Focus Shifts to Washington
Following his UK visit, Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Washington for talks with President Trump as Ukraine seeks continued international military, financial, and diplomatic support.
The meetings come amid renewed battlefield escalation and ongoing efforts by Kyiv and its allies to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities while increasing pressure on Russia.
