Zelenskyy to Visit UK as Burnham's First Foreign Guest
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be the first foreign visitor hosted by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Zelenskyy will visit a UK naval base on Monday.
Ukrainian forces have been training there. Burnham said the visit showed Britain's strong support for Ukraine.
During the visit Burnham is expected to announce new UK weapons technology for Ukraine. This includes the plans behind Britain's new "Stone Cloak" electronic warfare system.
The two leaders are also expected to meet about 200 Ukrainian troops. Those troops have spent three weeks training in Britain.
They took part in Exercise Sea Breeze. This is a training program for sea safety and clearing mines.
It prepares troops for missions in the Black Sea. Total UK support for Ukraine has reached £25 billion since Russia's invasion.
This includes £16 billion in direct military help. Burnham called Zelenskyy soon after taking office last Monday.
He invited Zelenskyy to visit as soon as possible. The visit follows a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine by former leader Keir Starmer.
That trip happened less than two weeks earlier. It was Starmer's last foreign visit as prime minister.
Key Terms 5
- Zelenskyy President of Ukraine since 2019, leading the country during the war with Russia.
- Andy Burnham New British prime minister, recently took office.
- Keir Starmer Former British prime minister before Burnham took office.
- Stone Cloak Name of a new British electronic warfare technology system.
- Exercise Sea Breeze A military training program focused on sea safety and mine clearing.