UK PM Burnham to visit Ukraine Monday, announce missile production support
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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Ukraine on Monday, his first overseas trip since taking office, to co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. He is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow MBDA to release classified information on British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, enabling France and Ukraine to establish local assembly lines. The visit comes weeks after Zelenskiy travelled to Britain in late July as Burnham's first international guest.
Key Facts
- Burnham will co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Ukraine on Monday and meet President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
- Britain has agreed to allow MBDA to release classified information on British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile.
- The decision will help enable France and Ukraine to establish local assembly lines for the SCALP missile, which shares British and French technology.
- Britain has pledged more than £25 billion ($34 billion) in military and civilian support to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
- Moscow warned London last week of "consequences" for supplying drones to Kyiv, accusing Britain of deepening its involvement in the war.
Missile Production Support
Burnham is set to announce that Britain has agreed to allow European missile manufacturer MBDA to release classified information on British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile. That will help enable France and Ukraine to establish local assembly lines for the missile, which shares British and French technology, according to Downing Street. The push to expand Ukraine's domestic missile production comes as Ukraine increasingly relies on long-range drones and strike weapons to target Russian oil refineries and logistics facilities far behind the front lines.
UK Support and Russian Warning
Britain has been one of Ukraine's strongest supporters since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, providing military support, economic aid and diplomatic backing. Britain was the first country to announce plans to supply Ukraine with Western-made battle tanks and long-range cruise missiles following the invasion and has pledged more than £25 billion ($34 billion) so far in military and civilian support. Moscow warned London last week of "consequences" for supplying drones to Kyiv, accusing Britain of deepening its involvement in the war following a report that British-made drones had been used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time. Burnham is expected to use his visit to reassure Ukraine and its allies that Britain would continue to play a leading role in efforts to strengthen Ukraine's security under his government.
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UK PM Burnham to visit Ukraine Monday, announce missile production support
