Zelensky And Britain's New Leader Discuss Drone Projects And Missile Defense For Kyiv

LONDON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and caller U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Monday astatine a British naval guidelines and discussed associated drone projects and Ukraine’s urgent request for ballistic rocket interceptors to antagonistic Russian attacks.

Zelensky’s sojourn was nan first by a overseas leader since Burnham took agency a week ago, and nan premier curate said it signaled nan U.K.’s “unwavering” support for Kyiv to take sides itself against Russia’s 4-year-old, full-scale invasion.

His predecessor, Keir Starmer, was successful nan Ukrainian superior little than 2 weeks agone successful his past overseas travel earlier leaving office, and Burnham said he planned to sojourn soon.

Burnham is nan 5th British premier curate Zelensky has dealt pinch since Russia launched nan warfare successful 2022.

“You are nan first leader I person welcomed successful personification since taking office, and that is nary accident,” Burnham told Zelensky. “It is intended to nonstop a very clear message: we are pinch Ukraine 100%, I americium personally pinch you 100%, and I will grant each committedness this state has made to Ukraine successful full.”

Zelensky said nan 2 countries’ narration was “stronger than ever.”

The meeting, aboard nan craft bearer HMS Queen Elizabeth docked astatine Portsmouth connected England’s southbound coast, came a time earlier Zelensky is expected to sojourn President Trump successful Washington.

Burnham said they had “talked astatine length” astir Kyiv’s request for much interceptors to sprout down Russian ballistic missiles, “particularly successful position of Ukraine protecting captious nationalist infrastructure during nan winters.”

Zelensky said connected X that nan leaders besides discussed “joint defense production.” Britain and Ukraine already person a woody to activity together connected caller drones, and Zelensky told Sky News beforehand that he hoped to build a “big, large factory” successful Britain.

Burnham announced that nan U.K. will springiness Ukraine nan intelligence spot down its caller “Stone Cloak” physics warfare system, which is tin of jamming Russian aerial defenses to extremity drones from being detected.

Lawless writes for nan Associated Press. Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov successful Kyiv, Ukraine, and Stephen McGrath successful Bucharest, Romania, contributed.