Image: from Jürgen Nauditt X @jurgen_nauditt
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to Ukraine, assuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that London will continue standing firmly alongside Kyiv as the war with Russia continues.
During their meeting at the Royal Navy base in Portsmouth, Burnham pledged to honour every commitment previously made by the UK and announced new defence cooperation, including the sharing of advanced electronic warfare technology designed to help Ukrainian forces counter Russian drone operations.
The visit marked Burnham’s first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader since taking office, underlining Ukraine’s continued importance in British foreign policy.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to Zelensky:
We are with Ukraine 100%. I am personally with you 100%, Mr. President.
I will honor every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full. pic.twitter.com/n5OWo2CxNT
— Clash Report (@clashreport) July 27, 2026
“We’ve got your back”
Standing alongside Zelenskyy, Burnham delivered an unequivocal message of support.
“We are with Ukraine 100%. I am personally with you 100%, Mr. President, and I will honour every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full,” he said.
Addressing Zelenskyy directly, the British leader added:
“To put it simply, Volodymyr, I want you to know that we’ve got your back. You can count on me and you can count on us. You can count on the UK, for as long as it takes.”
The remarks signal continuity in Britain’s policy despite the change in leadership, with Burnham pledging sustained military, political and diplomatic backing for Kyiv.
Portsmouth Naval Base, United Kingdom. Today, aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham @andyburnham and I had our first meeting. We greatly appreciate that our team is the first to visit the United Kingdom since Andy Burnham took… pic.twitter.com/BxJZiHRnSE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 27, 2026
Britain to share Stone Cloak technology
One of the meeting’s most significant announcements was Britain’s decision to transfer the intellectual property behind its Stone Cloak electronic warfare system.
The agreement will allow Ukraine to manufacture the technology domestically, significantly expanding production capacity.
The compact, tablet-sized electronic jammers are designed to prevent drones from being detected and targeted during combat operations. Thousands of units have already been supplied to Ukrainian forces, where they have become an important element of battlefield protection.
According to Downing Street, the technology will also be incorporated into Britain’s next generation of long-range weapons, including the government’s low-cost cruise missile initiative known as Project Brakestop.
Burnham said the system would help Ukrainian forces strike military targets while improving protection for personnel operating near the front lines.
Strengthening military cooperation
The two leaders also met more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel participating in Exercise Sea Breeze, a British-based naval training programme focused on improving maritime warfare, mine-countermeasure operations and interoperability.
The exercise reflects the expanding defence partnership between the United Kingdom and Ukraine, particularly in preparation for future Black Sea security operations.
Peace efforts must include Ukraine
While emphasising continued military support, Burnham also reiterated Britain’s backing for diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
He called for a full and unconditional ceasefire while insisting that any future negotiations must include Ukraine as an equal participant.
“We will keep up the pressure, pushing for a ceasefire and a resumption of negotiations which must have Ukraine at the table and include a strong voice for Europe too,” Burnham said.
The British prime minister also revealed his intention to visit Ukraine in the near future to deepen cooperation on defence, reconstruction and other strategic priorities.
“This is going to be a close partnership,” he said. “I intend to visit soon.”
Zelenskyy welcomes renewed commitment
President Zelenskyy thanked Burnham for maintaining Britain’s strong support and noted the symbolic significance of becoming the first foreign leader received by the new prime minister.
“I am honoured to be the first foreign leader to visit the United Kingdom since Andy Burnham took office,” Zelenskyy said.
He described relations between Kyiv and London as “stronger than ever”, praising Britain’s continued focus on Ukraine’s security and defence needs.
“I thank Andy for his commitment to this partnership and for giving so much attention to defence and to our security,” Zelenskyy added.
Britain signals continuity under new leadership
Burnham’s first major foreign policy engagement suggests there will be no shift in Britain’s approach to Ukraine despite the transition in government.
By combining continued military assistance, technology transfers and support for peace efforts that include both Ukraine and Europe, London has sought to reassure Kyiv that British backing will remain steadfast as the conflict enters another critical phase.
The meeting also reinforces the United Kingdom’s role as one of Ukraine’s closest international partners, with defence cooperation expected to deepen further in the months ahead.