LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Andy Burnham has arrived in Ukraine on Monday for his first overseas visit as UK Prime Minister.
Just weeks after welcoming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the UK in July as his first international guest, Burnham traveled to Kyiv to reiterate the country's unwavering support for the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine's foreign minister received Andy Burnham as he arrived in Kyiv.
While chairing a meeting of 'the Coalition of the Willing,' he is set to announce that UK defense firm MBDA will share classified information on UK components for Ukraine to build its own long-range missiles, as Ukraine and France look to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.
The SCALP missile is the French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow, with both using shared French and British technology.
It also complements the major UK effort to rapidly develop low-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine through Project Brakestop.
UK was the first country to gift long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes to Ukraine in 2023.
While in Kyiv, the Prime Minister will also take part in Ukraine's Independence Day events.
He is expected to be presented with an award on behalf of the British people, in recognition of the United Kingdom's support.
The UK has been one of Ukraine's foremost partners since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, providing a range of military, economic, and diplomatic support.
This includes leading efforts to secure Ukraine's long-term security alongside France as co-chairs of the Coalition of the Willing, and committing £25 billion in funding, including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support.
Burnham's visit comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia is likely to mobilize 300,000 additional troops later this year in an attempt to intensify efforts to seize a region of east Ukraine.
However, the Ukrainian leader vowed to 'wipe out' the entire new force.
'Russia has lost 267,000 personnel since the start of the year, including around 155,000 killed to date,' according to Zelensky.
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