UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visits Kyiv to pledge long-term support for Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first official foreign visit to Kyiv on August 25, 2026, to reaffirm Britain's commitment to Ukraine during its 35th independence anniversary. During the visit, Burnham participated in a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky, where the leaders discussed military cooperation and Ukraine's economic resilience ahead of the upcoming winter.

A key outcome of the visit is the British government's agreement to allow the defense company MBDA to declassify technical information regarding UK components used in the SCALP long-range missile. This decision is intended to assist Ukraine in developing its own indigenous long-range strike capabilities. The visit follows a period of intensified Russian strikes, including a recent attack on a shopping center that claimed at least 16 lives. Beyond military aid, the discussions touched upon collaborating with the insurance industry to protect Ukraine's critical infrastructure.