Andy Burnham is set to welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street on Wednesday in what the UK government describes as a demonstration of “rock-solid” support for Ukraine. The prime minister said his message to Zelenskyy and his country would be: “We are with you for as long as it takes.”
To coincide with the visit, the UK announced it will accelerate the delivery of British-made lightweight multi-role missiles (LMMs) to help Ukraine defend against a new generation of Russian jet-powered drones. In parallel, Burnham and his ministers will push for a full international maritime services ban on exports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The pair have already met twice since Burnham took office in July, including when Zelenskyy visited a naval base in Portsmouth and when Burnham travelled to Kyiv in August. This latest visit comes as Ukraine faces increased Russian missile and drone attacks, and after a series of actions by Trump that have unsettled Kyiv. Trump recently made a deal to buy Russian diesel, called for Ukraine to have a new leader, and announced a supposed ceasefire connected to energy infrastructure that Zelenskyy said “was news to him”.
Zelenskyy has expressed anger at the diesel deal, saying subsequent Russian attacks on civilian targets amounted to a “thanks” from Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian president’s visit to London echoes a pattern seen under the previous UK government: Zelenskyy met then-prime minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street the day after Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated him in the Oval Office 18 months ago. During that trip, Zelenskyy was also hosted by King Charles at Sandringham.
The UK has positioned itself as one of Ukraine’s most consistent allies throughout the war, and Wednesday’s visit is expected to reaffirm that stance even as Washington’s policies appear to shift.