Prime Minister Andy Burnham told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the UK stands with Ukraine 100 per cent during their first meeting on Monday. Mr Burnham said: “We are with Ukraine 100 per cent. I am personally with you 100 per cent, Mr President. And I will honour every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full.”
The meeting, held at a naval base in Portsmouth, saw Mr Burnham announce the UK will hand over the intellectual property behind its new “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system, designed to block Russian detection of drones. Mr Zelensky responded that relations between the two countries are “stronger than ever”.
On defence spending, the prime minister pledged to reach 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035, saying: “It’s my job to keep this country safe and therefore, in the world that we’re living in, defence has to be right up there as a top priority.” He added he will honour Nato commitments and fully fund the Defence Investment Plan.
Mr Burnham also indicated he intends to visit Ukraine soon. Meanwhile, Russian forces struck three Ukrainian ports, including fuel storage facilities at Odesa and Chornomorsk, and a cargo ship at Mykolaiv, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia is open to new peace proposals, though the Kremlin said it had not seen specific information ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Zelensky in Washington.
