UK PM Burnham visits Kyiv, pledges missile data and declares Russia has 'failed'

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first foreign visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on the occasion of the nation's 35th Independence Day. His presence in the capital underscored the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

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I wanted my first trip as prime minister to be to Ukraine.

Speaking at a ceremony on Sofia Square, Burnham praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people, stating, "Because of you, Europe is stronger, NATO is stronger." He directly addressed Russia's actions, declaring, "You show day after day that Russia has failed." Burnham reaffirmed Britain's commitment to Ukraine, vowing that recent Russian threats over British drone usage would not impact the UK's support. To bolster Ukraine's capabilities, Britain announced it would provide classified technical data and drawings for its long-range Scalp missiles.

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Because of you, Europe is stronger, NATO is stronger.

Burnham's visit coincided with a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" – countries supporting Ukraine – which convened in Kyiv. The meeting was co-chaired by Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron, who joined remotely. Finnish President Alexander Stubb also attended the gathering during his two-day visit to Ukraine. Both meetings focused on Ukraine's immediate needs, particularly its critical shortage of air defense missiles.

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You show day after day that Russia has failed.

The conflict has seen intensified fighting recently, with Ukraine conducting successful strikes deep into Russian territory, while Russia continues to target civilian areas within Ukraine. Stubb emphasized the importance of Russia experiencing the "realities of this war" and suggested that increasing Ukraine's capacity for deep strikes, via drones or missiles, is the "only way to get to negotiate peace."

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This is the only way to get to negotiate peace.