LONDON: UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will make his first overseas trip as prime minister on Monday, travelling to Kyiv to reaffirm the UK’s support for Ukraine and join events marking the country’s Independence Day.
During the visit, Burnham will chair his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” an alliance established by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
He is also expected to accept an award on behalf of the British people in recognition of the UK’s support for Ukraine and attend events marking the country’s independence.
The visit comes amid a recent escalation in Russian attacks on Ukraine, including a strike on a shopping centre on Friday that killed at least 16 people.
Ahead of his visit, Burnham said Ukrainians should have no doubt that the UK would stand with them “today and for as long as it takes.” He said he was proud of Britain’s contribution to Ukraine and wanted to make clear that the country’s support would remain steadfast, stressing that Ukraine’s security was closely linked to Britain’s own.
Burnham also said the UK’s friendship with Ukraine would outlast Russia’s war and warned Moscow that Britain would remain determined to support Ukraine until a “just and lasting peace” is achieved.
The visit follows a warning from Moscow that Britain could face “consequences” over Ukraine’s use of British-supplied drones in its recent attacks on Russian infrastructure.
Inputs from BBC
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