Bernham meets Zelensky, the first foreign leader to visit him since taking office, and reaffirms steadfast support for Kyiv

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the first foreign leader he has met since taking office, reaffirming his “steadfast support” for Kyiv. Zelenskyy’s visit comes ahead of his trip to Washington today, where he will meet President Donald Trump, as part of his efforts to secure assistance in air defense more than four years after the start of the war with Russia.

Burnham and Zelenskyy both visited a naval base in Portsmouth on England’s southern coast, inspected Ukrainian equipment, and met with Ukrainian and British soldiers participating in a mine countermeasures training exercise in preparation for upcoming missions in the Black Sea.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that Burnham pledged to “continue the strong bond between the two countries,” a commitment he made to Zelenskyy during a phone call on Monday of last week, hours after assuming office in succession to Keir Starmer.

In a statement, Burnham said, “Britain stands with Ukraine side by side, and our support remains unwavering.” He added, “Russia should have no doubt about our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.”

For his part, Zelenskyy praised the alliance between the two countries upon his arrival, describing it as “the strongest relationship in their entire history.”

London announced that it would share information with Kyiv about a new British electronic jamming system designed for military use, known as “Stone Clock.” The system can be mounted on drones to reduce the ability of Russian air defenses to track and target them in the air, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

London noted that Kyiv has so far been supplied with thousands of these devices, developed under a 100-year partnership agreement between the two countries. It added that after the deployment of these jamming systems and their potential mass production in Ukraine, “Stone Clock” technology will be integrated into the next generation of British long-range strike capabilities.

Burnham said the system is “the best British homegrown innovation and has proven its effectiveness on the front line, playing a crucial role in protecting the security of our country.”