UK’s New PM Hosts Zelensky: Andy Burnham hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Royal Navy training base and pledged "unwavering — 100%" support for Ukraine. He announced a deal allowing Ukraine to mass‑produce Stone Cloak electronic‑warfare systems for drones, which will later be incorporated into Britain’s next‑generation long‑range weapons. The leaders also met more than 200 Ukrainian service members participating in Exercise Sea Breeze.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Hosts President Zelensky, Greenlights Stone Cloak Production
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham (pictured) was due to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Royal Navy base on Monday, marking his first international visitor since replacing Keir Starmer a week ago. File photo by Henry Nicholls/EPA
July 27 (UPI) — Britain’s new prime minister, Andy Burnham, hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at a Royal Navy training base on Monday, underscoring London’s continued support for Kyiv.
The visit—Burnham’s first meeting with a foreign leader since he took office on July 20—was intended to showcase the close UK‑Ukraine partnership and to announce a major technology transfer agreement.
Stone Cloak Deal
At the naval base, Burnham unveiled a deal that will allow Ukraine to mass‑manufacture Stone Cloak, a British electronic‑warfare system designed to be fitted to drones to reduce their visibility to air‑defence radar. Downing Street said the system will later be integrated into Britain’s next generation of long‑range weapons, including projects led by Project Brakestop, which is developing low‑cost cruise missiles.
“My support for Ukraine is unwavering — it is 100%. Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder,” Burnham said, pledging continued assistance until a long‑lasting and just peace is secured.
Training and Tactical Cooperation
Burnham and Zelensky also met more than 200 Ukrainian service members taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a maritime training deployment involving Ukraine and 14 partner nations designed to strengthen warfighting capabilities and counter‑mine tactics in the Black Sea.
In a post on X, Zelensky thanked Britain, saying Ukraine valued that it could “always count on Britain’s principled decisions, leadership, and support.”
Longstanding Support
Downing Street figures show total British support for Ukraine since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in February 2022 stands at $33.3 billion, including $21.3 billion in military assistance. Officials highlighted bipartisan backing for Ukraine across successive administrations.
Political Context
The visit follows a period of active UK diplomacy: Burnham’s predecessor met Zelensky in Kyiv on July 17, marking continued high‑level engagement between the two governments.
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