UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first foreign trip to Ukraine on August 24, 2026, coinciding with the country’s 35th Independence Day celebrations in Kyiv [1, 2, 3]. During the visit, he co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries backing Ukraine in its conflict with Russia [1, 3]. Burnham urged allied nations to “do everything we can” to supply air defence systems to help Ukraine counter Russian ballistic missile attacks targeting civilians [1].

Burnham highlighted the ongoing British and French provision of long-range cruise missiles, with the UK supplying Storm Shadow missiles and France providing the Scalp variants since 2023 [2, 3]. He announced that the UK would hand over blueprints for key Storm Shadow components to Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to produce its own version jointly with France [2, 3]. In response, Russia threatened to destroy any Ukrainian factories manufacturing these missiles and accused Western powers of escalating the war [2].

The Prime Minister plans a US visit in September to lobby President Donald Trump to release additional Patriot missile interceptors, which Ukraine has run short of as it defends against Russian missile barrages [4]. Burnham expressed optimism that Ukraine’s current difficulties due to low interceptor stockpiles are "fixable" [4].

Burnham emphasized that Britain’s support will last as long as needed, covering both wartime assistance and future reconstruction efforts in Ukraine [3]. He warned Russia that the UK “will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace” and condemned Kremlin tactics, saying, “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is now hoping he can win through a campaign of terror using ballistic missiles against Ukrainian civilians ... This can never be the route to victory” [1, 3]. He also told Ukrainians, “My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st” [2].

Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian targets, including oil refineries and warehouses linked to the Russian online retailer Wildberries, as fighting continues [3]. Burnham said he looks forward to his US meetings in September, adding, “Leaving today, I’m quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks” [4].