Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to arrive in Kyiv on Monday morning for his first foreign visit since taking office, marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. During this critical diplomatic mission, he will announce that the UK government is authorizing the European defence firm MBDA to declassify technical information regarding the UK-made components of Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles. This initiative is intended to enable Ukraine to manufacture its own versions of these long-range weapons, a project that, while expected to take years to influence the battlefield, represents a significant deepening of British defense support.
Burnham’s visit occurs as Kyiv prepares for potential new waves of Russian missile strikes and as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy navigates a complex domestic political environment. In a statement released Sunday night, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK's commitment, declaring, “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 that the friendship between the two nations would outlast the current conflict and that the UK would continue to stand with Ukraine through both the war and the subsequent rebuilding efforts.
Beyond the declassification announcement, Burnham will confirm that the UK is assisting France in establishing assembly lines for long-range missiles within Ukraine, fulfilling a commitment made by French President Emmanuel Macron last month. Macron, who spoke with Zelenskyy on Saturday, also pledged to deliver separate interceptor missiles to help defend against high-speed Russian attacks. These measures come as Ukraine faces a shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors, with Zelenskyy noting that he has requested 360 such missiles for a winter defense package. The Ukrainian president also confirmed agreements with France for at least one air-defense system this year and with Germany for the supply of approximately 600 interceptors between 2027 and 2028.
The British government’s move to share missile technology is expected to escalate tensions with Moscow, which has recently accused the UK of deliberately intensifying the conflict through its support for Ukrainian drone strikes. Speculation regarding a diplomatic rift has also grown following reports that Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to London without naming a replacement. Despite these pressures, Burnham has maintained a firm stance, insisting that the UK will not be deterred by Russian threats.
During his stay, Burnham will participate in independence day events, which are being held under strict secrecy due to security concerns, and will receive an award for the UK’s contributions to Ukraine. He is also scheduled to co-chair a meeting with President Macron, who will join via video link, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to coordinate strategies for countering Russian long-distance attacks. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy addressed domestic challenges this weekend, dismissing calls for elections from his former defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, as a “tsunami” that would risk splitting the country during wartime.
However, Zelenskyy said over the weekend he still wanted to buy more US-made Patriots, adding that Ukraine was happy to pay for them rather than receive them as military aid. “I wanted to secure 300 Patriot missiles for the winter package,” he said. “The request from our air force is 360.”
He added that he had reached an agreement with France on at least one air-defence system this year, and with Germany on the supply of about 600 interceptors in 2027-28.
