British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, marking his first foreign leader visit since taking office last week. The meeting underscores the UK's steadfast support for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The two leaders will visit a British naval base to engage with military personnel involved in training Ukrainian forces. This training focuses on preparing Ukrainian troops for operations, including maritime security and counter-mine exercises designed for future Black Sea missions.
Strengthening UK-Ukraine Military Cooperation
Downing Street confirmed that Burnham will reaffirm the UK's commitment to maintaining a strong alliance with Ukraine. In a statement, Burnham emphasized that Britain stands firmly alongside Ukraine and will persist in efforts to secure a lasting and just peace.
As part of the cooperation, the UK announced it will share the intellectual property of a new electronic jamming device called "Stone Cloak" with Kyiv. This compact, drone-mounted jammer disrupts Russian air defense systems, enhancing the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone operations. Thousands of these devices have already been supplied to Ukraine.
Developed under a century-long partnership pact signed in January 2025, "Stone Cloak" represents advanced British military innovation proven on the battlefield. The technology is expected to be integrated into the next generation of UK deep-strike capabilities.
Ongoing Support Amid Prolonged Conflict
- The UK’s total support for Ukraine has reached £25 billion ($33 billion) since the full-scale invasion began over four years ago.
- Of this amount, £16 billion has been allocated as direct military assistance.
- Approximately 200 Ukrainian military personnel have been training in the UK for the past three weeks.
Following his UK visit, President Zelensky is scheduled to travel to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump and attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, an ardent supporter of Ukraine.
