- WIADOMOŚCI
UK PM Andy Burnham visits Kyiv on first foreign trip
Photo. @andrii_sybiha
To mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv. This is the first foreign visit for the new head of government.
Other politicians also took part in the celebrations, including European Council President Antonio Costa, the Presidents of Moldova and Estonia, Maia Sandu and Alar Karis, and the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden.
The arrival of the politicians was commented on by the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, on the X platform. “Today, we know for sure who our true friends are. We are deeply grateful to all our partners who have stood with Ukraine, strengthened our ability to defend ourselves, and helped us preserve the freedom we fought so hard to regain.”
In addition to the holiday celebrations, a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing” – a group of countries supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia – is to be held in Kyiv. The meeting is to be chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Some will arrive in the capital in person, while others will join remotely.
According to The Guardian, “Burnham plans to announce during his visit that the UK government will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp long-range missiles to help Ukraine” procure its own model of the weapon. This would expand Ukraine’s capabilities to strike targets inside Russia. Storm Shadow missiles have an operational range of approximately 550 km and can be carried by a fighter jet.
