Burnham to Share Long-Range Missile Blueprints with Ukraine in Kyiv Visit
Andy Burnham is making his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv, where he will hand over blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles. The move underscores continued British support for Ukraine amid escalating Russian strikes.
The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing," a group established by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. He is also set to accept an award on behalf of the British people in recognition of the UK's support for Ukraine, and will take part in events marking Ukraine's Independence Day.
In a significant step for Ukraine's defence capabilities, Burnham will announce that his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information on UK components used in the long-range Scalp missile—the French equivalent of the UK's Storm Shadow. This declassification will enable Ukraine to produce its own long-range missiles, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains and strengthening its self-defence capacity.
The visit comes in the wake of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, including a strike on a shopping centre on Friday that killed at least 16 people. The UK has consistently backed Kyiv, and Burnham's trip is intended to reaffirm that commitment.
Speaking ahead of the visit on Monday, Burnham said: "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. 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."
He emphasised the enduring friendship between the two nations, adding: "The friendship Ukraine shares with the UK will long outlast Russia's illegal war. Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace."
Moscow has warned of "consequences" over Ukraine's use of British drones in its recent ramped-up strikes on Russian infrastructure. Kyiv has stepped up long-range attacks on Moscow and other Russian regions, targeting oil refineries and warehouses belonging to the country's largest online retailer, Wildberries. The escalation reflects Ukraine's evolving strategy to disrupt Russian logistics and economic assets.
Burnham's visit signals continuity in UK foreign policy, with an emphasis on practical military aid and diplomatic solidarity. The decision to share missile blueprints is likely to deepen Ukraine's ability to sustain its defences in the long term.
