Andy Burnham Affirms Britain's Unwavering Support for Ukraine

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has affirmed the United Kingdom’s ‘unwavering’ commitment to supporting Ukraine ahead of his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday. Zelensky was Burnham’s first international guest since he took office a week ago, with No 10 stating the visit illustrates the strong relationship between the two nations. During a visit to a naval base with Zelensky, Burnham announced that the UK will share the intellectual property of its latest electronic warfare system, ‘Stone Cloak’, enabling Ukraine to manufacture the technology on a large scale. ‘The United Kingdom stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering. Russia must not doubt our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine,’ Burnham stated. He added that Stone Cloak is a prime example of British innovation proven on the front lines and will be crucial for protecting the security of both countries. The tablet-sized electronic jamming system is designed to block detection of drones equipped with the device. The Ministry of Defence has already distributed thousands of these units to Ukrainian forces. Following its deployment in Ukraine, the technology will be integrated into the UK’s next generation of long-range weapons, including Project Brakestop, which aims to integrate low-cost cruise missiles. During the visit, the two leaders also met with over 200 Ukrainian military personnel participating in Exercise Sea Breeze, a maritime drill focused on enhancing combat capabilities and mine countermeasures in the Black Sea. British support for Ukraine has continued since the Russian invasion four years ago, with total financial commitments reaching £25 billion. Burnham contacted Zelensky on his first day in office and immediately invited him to the UK. In a social media post, Zelensky expressed his appreciation, writing, ‘I greatly appreciate that support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast.’ Addressing the change in UK leadership, Zelensky admitted to initial concerns but remained optimistic about bilateral ties. ‘Of course, I was afraid of change, of course we are afraid because we are in a war every day,’ Zelensky said. ‘But once again, the priority is the relationship between nations, not just between individuals. I am confident this relationship will not change, or we must do our best not to lose this excellent relationship.’ He concluded, ‘I hope we will never lose this strong relationship with the United Kingdom, during or after the war.’