Prime Minister Andy Burnham has travelled to Kyiv on his first overseas visit since entering Downing Street, as the UK Government announced new support for plans to assemble long-range missiles in Ukraine.
Burnham arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Monday as the country marked the 35th anniversary of its independence, with talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders taking place against the backdrop of Russia’s continuing war.
The Government has agreed that defence company MBDA can release classified information concerning British components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile, allowing France and Ukraine to move forward with plans for local assembly lines in Ukraine.
UK backs Ukrainian assembly of SCALP missiles
SCALP is the French-produced counterpart of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile. The weapons use shared British and French technology and have already formed part of Western support for Ukraine’s long-range strike capability.
Downing Street said releasing the information would enable French and Ukrainian plans for the assembly of SCALP missiles in Ukraine to progress.
The move also complements Project Brakestop, a British programme intended to accelerate the development of lower-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine.
Britain was the first country to announce that it would provide Ukraine with Western-made long-range cruise missiles in 2023.
Burnham makes first overseas visit as Prime Minister
The Kyiv trip is Burnham’s first international visit since becoming Prime Minister and follows his decision to welcome Zelenskyy to the UK in July as his first international guest.
Burnham said Ukraine should be in no doubt that Britain would continue to support the country, arguing that Ukrainian security was directly connected to the UK’s own security.
He said Britain’s support would not waver and that the relationship between the two countries would continue beyond the war and into Ukraine’s eventual reconstruction.
The Prime Minister also warned Russia that the UK would not retreat from its position, saying Britain would continue its support until there was a “just and lasting peace”.
Coalition of the Willing meets in Kyiv
During the visit, Burnham is expected to meet Zelenskyy and co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, the group of countries supporting Ukraine that is led by Britain and France.
A number of European leaders are in Kyiv for Ukraine’s Independence Day, including European Council President António Costa, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Estonian President Alar Karis.
The talks are expected to focus on continued international support for Ukraine and its defence against Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Britain says support will continue
The UK Government says Britain has committed £25 billion in support to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. That includes £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support.
Britain and Ukraine also signed a 100 Year Partnership intended to deepen defence, economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The decision on SCALP technology represents a further step towards increasing Ukraine’s ability to assemble long-range weapons domestically, while retaining the involvement of Britain and France in technology used by the missile.