Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday as the first international visitor to meet new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with the two leaders set to visit a naval base and announce a major sharing of military technology.
Burnham will announce the transfer of the intellectual property behind the UK's "Stone Cloak" electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to produce the technology at scale. The Stone Cloak jammers are roughly the size of a tablet computer and are designed to block detection of any drones they are fitted to. The Ministry of Defence has already given thousands of the devices to Ukrainian forces. Downing Street said the technology will also be built into the UK's next generation of long-range weapons following its deployment in Ukraine, including Project Brakestop, a government program to develop low-cost cruise missiles.
Burnham said in a statement Sunday evening: "Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries."
Prior to the meeting, Zelensky said the UK and Ukraine had "built the strongest relationship in the history of co-operation." He said the key priorities of the trip were air defence, maritime security and joint defence production that "strengthens both countries," adding: "We appreciate that we can always count on principled decisions, leadership and support from Britain."
Burnham told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the visit that his support for Ukraine was "unwavering - it is 100%."
The two leaders also met with more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel who have spent the last three weeks taking part in a maritime exercise in the UK called Exercise Sea Breeze. The exercise is aimed at strengthening warfighting capabilities and counter-mine measures in the Black Sea.
Britain has committed £25 billion in funding for Ukraine's warfighting efforts since Russia's invasion four years ago. Burnham spoke to Zelensky in one of his first calls after becoming prime minister last Monday and invited him to visit at the earliest opportunity. Zelensky wrote on X shortly afterward: "I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast."
Burnham's predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Kyiv on his final full day as Labour leader, where he announced £255 million in fresh funding for Ukraine and was awarded Ukraine's Order of Freedom.