Since moving into Downing Street in July, Andy Burnham – a foreign policy neophyte – has expressed strong support for Ukraine. But on Monday he saw the bitter human cost of the war up close for the first time, visiting Kyiv during his first international trip as prime minister.
The occasion was the ۳۵th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave awards to the families of fallen soldiers. Relatives wept, hugging Ukraine’s president. Photos of young men in their prime were shown on a giant screen.
The setting was St Sophia cathedral in the old heart of the Ukrainian capital. Built in the ۱۱th century, the building predates Moscow and is a symbol of Ukraine’s ancient statehood. Next to it were modern weapons used by Kyiv in its struggle against Russia including quadcopter drones and unmanned land robots.
In a speech in front of other western leaders, Burnham compared Ukraine’s fight to that waged by Britain during the darkest days of the second world war. “My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the ۲۰th century, you hold that flame in the ۲۱st,” he declared.
Like other high-profile visitors, Burnham arrived with a gift. Since ۲۰۲۳ the UK and France has been providing Kyiv with long-range Storm Shadow or Scalp (as the French version is known) cruise missiles, used to knock out Russian naval ships and command centres.
It was now handing over British blueprints for key components, Burnham said, so Ukraine could eventually make its own version with France.
More Storm Shadows could go some way to dealing with Ukraine’s biggest problem – the wave of ballistic missiles fired by Russia that rain down on Kyiv and other cities most nights. As of now, Ukraine has run out of US-made Patriotic interceptors capable of shooting them down. The Trump administration is disinclined to provide more.
The British cruise missiles carry a larger payload than the long-range drones favoured by Kyiv. They could be used to destroy enemy ballistic missile launch systems, which can be quickly moved, and are dotted around sites in western Russia. Depending on their range, they could also disable military runways and aerodromes.
But nobody expects production to start soon. In the meantime, the Kremlin has responded with characteristic belligerence. Vladimir Putin’s press spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow would destroy any Ukrainian Storm Shadow factories, and accused London of taking part in the war and adding “fuel to the fire” though it is France that is helping with building them.
Last week Russia threatened “consequences” over the supply of British drones to Kyiv and withdrew its ambassador from London. It is unclear how Putin might escalate further. He has already sent assassins to poison Russian dissidents on UK territory including the murder in ۲۰۰۶ of Alexander Litvinenko, killed with radioactive tea.
Burnham appears unmoved by what he dubbed “outrageous” Russian threats, an encouraging sign for Kyiv. On Monday he pointed out that it was Putin who “started the fire” with his illegal and unprovoked invasion, and assured Zelenskyy of his “personal commitment” to Kyiv’s existential cause.
Ukraine has warmly welcomed the Storm Shadow initiative. Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told the Guardian he hoped manufacture could begin in “months, not years”. “We have proved many times we can do impossible things in producing weaponry,” he said, saying the missile “strengthened” Kyiv’s position in negotiations with Moscow.
Of Burnham’s visit, he added: “For us, it’s hugely symbolic and important. It illustrates that for the UK Ukraine remains a top priority. You are an important bridge and have rectified the situation whenever we have a crisis in our relations with the US. Your king is a valuable diplomatic tool and puts in a good word for us with Trump.”
The trip also signals to allies that the UK will continue to play a leading role in the coalition of the willing after the departure of Keir Starmer. Co-hosting a coalition meeting for the first time, Burnham said Europe would do everything it could to source more Patriotic interceptors for Ukraine. Zelenskyy has asked for ۳۰۰ to help the country survive the coming winter.
Burnham’s speech made clear that he regards Ukraine’s struggle as Britain’s too – at a time when the US has effectively given up on its attempts to broker a peace deal, and has halted direct military aid. “Ukraine has been Europe’s protector, not a drain on our security but the frontline in keeping Europe safe,” he added. “The Ukrainian people deserve not just our continued support but our gratitude and respect,” he said.
Ukrainian leaders and soldiers are grateful for British diplomatic and moral support, though they know that London’s military power is limited. Storm Shadow is deemed to have been one of the UK’s most useful contributions but stockpiles were modest.
Ukraine’s focus has been on developing its own long-range drones and cruise missiles, such as Fire Point’s Flamingo, which have been used to strike refineries and warehouses deep inside Russia. The goal is to attack Russia with ۱,۰۰۰ drones and some missiles a day this year, not when Storm Shadow production lines are ready.
But the deal that Burnham has agreed with Zelenskyy is an important renewal of goodwill. At some point Zelenskyy will probably need the help of European allies whenever the White House re-engages with the peace process. Burnham may become an important interlocutor with Trump, and today’s trip is from Ukraine’s perspective an encouraging start.
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