KYIV — UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday to announce that the UK government will allow MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles. The declassification of missile component information is intended to help Ukraine build its own version of long-range missiles.

The visit is Andy Burnham's first foreign trip as prime minister. During the trip, he will also announce that the UK will help France set up assembly lines in Ukraine for long-range missiles.

Burnham will co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Monday. The Coalition of the Willing comprises 34 countries. French President Emmanuel Macron will join the Coalition of the Willing meeting remotely via video link, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will participate in the meeting.

Andy Burnham will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the visit. He will also attend independence day events in Kyiv and receive an award in recognition of the UK’s support for Ukraine.

"On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes," Burnham said. "I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver."

Why It Matters

This announcement builds on previous military assistance provided by the UK. In 2023, the UK became the first Western country to provide Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which were later confirmed to be in Ukraine's possession. In 2023, the UK defense secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that the UK had begun sending Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, which are capable of striking targets up to 250 km away, and that these missiles were part of a broader effort involving multiple Western nations.

In August 2024, the UK Ministry of defense explicitly stated that Ukraine can use donated weapons, including those provided by the UK, inside Russian territory, though restrictions on the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles remain. Britain has pledged more than £25 billion in military and civilian support to Ukraine since 2022. Zelenskyy stated he reached an agreement with Germany on the supply of about 600 interceptors in 2027-28.

What's New

Andy Burnham will meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy during the visit.

The UK has provided £25 billion in total support to Ukraine since the start of the war, including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support. The UK has committed to providing £3 billion annually in support to Ukraine for as long as needed, as part of its ongoing commitment to the country’s defense and recovery efforts.

The UK’s 'Stone Cloak' electronic warfare system, which is being shared with Ukraine, is a compact device that disrupts Russian air defense systems to protect drones, and thousands have already been gifted to Ukraine by the UK Ministry of defense.