Britain will help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile capacity, Andy Burnham is set to announce in Kyiv on Monday during his first foreign visit as prime minister and Ukraine’s 35th independence day.
The UK government will allow MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components in the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles. Britain will also help France establish assembly lines in Ukraine, following a pledge by Emmanuel Macron.
What the UK announcement includes
The information-sharing arrangement is intended to help Ukraine build its own version of the Storm Shadow/Scalp missile. The source material says the project is likely to take several years to affect the war, making it a long-term industrial and military effort rather than an immediate increase in Ukraine’s missile stocks.
Burnham is expected to use a meeting of the coalition of the willing to reinforce Britain’s support. The group includes 34 countries that have promised to help secure Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached. Burnham and Macron will co-chair the meeting, with German chancellor Friedrich Merz also taking part remotely.
Air-defence pressure as leaders meet
The announcement comes as Kyiv prepares for another possible wave of Russian missile attacks. Ukraine’s military has run out of US-made Patriot interceptors, while Zelenskyy has said he still wants to buy more, rather than receive them as military aid. He said his air force had requested 360 Patriot missiles and that he wanted 300 for a winter package.
Zelenskyy also said France had agreed to provide at least one air-defence system this year, while Germany had agreed to supply about 600 interceptors in 2027-28. Macron separately promised to deliver interceptor missiles to help counter recent high-speed Russian attacks.
Why the visit carries diplomatic risks
The planned transfer of classified missile-component information is likely to draw further criticism from Moscow. Russia last week accused the UK of escalating the conflict by allowing Ukraine to use British-made drones and warned that deeper British involvement would increase the price Britain pays.
The visit is taking place amid heightened security concerns. Details of Burnham’s independence day events are being kept secret because of fears of a major Russian attack. European leaders have also condemned a drone attack on a shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih that killed 16 people.
Ukraine’s separate political challenge
Zelenskyy is also facing a domestic dispute over elections, which have been suspended since the war began. Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for an election, while Zelenskyy has said holding one during the war could split the country.
Burnham has said Russian threats will not weaken British support for Ukraine. He is due to attend independence day events in Kyiv and receive an award recognising the UK’s backing for the country.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.