Andy Burnham has arrived in Kyiv for his first overseas trip as UK prime minister, as Ukraine celebrates the 35th anniversary of its independence.
Burnham, who took office last month, has promised to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The Labour Party leader’s visit comes after he announced that Britain had “agreed that defense firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.”
The decision would “allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile,” Burnham’s Downing Street office said. It added that the move would also allow the UK to quickly develop low-cost, advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine. SCALP is the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both using shared French and British technology. The United Kingdom, one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters since Russia’s invasion, was the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes in 2023.
Burnham is set to co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv, which brings together countries supporting Ukraine. The French presidency said some participants would attend in person, while others would join the meeting online. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin will participate remotely.
Burnham’s first visit to Kyiv carries significance beyond political symbolism, with Britain’s decision to permit the release of classified SCALP-related information potentially marking a shift from supplying Ukraine with advanced weapons toward helping it establish a more resilient domestic long-range strike capability. Local assembly could reduce Kyiv’s dependence on vulnerable foreign supply chains while accelerating European efforts to expand missile production and develop cheaper deep-strike systems. (AFP)
