On Monday, a landmark day that marks Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union, United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham touched down in Kyiv for his first foreign visit since assuming office. The high-profile trip brings him together with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for key bilateral talks, and he will co-lead a gathering of the global coalition backing Ukraine alongside a cohort of other top international leaders.
Burnham is not arriving empty-handed. According to statements from his official office, the British premier is set to announce a critical policy shift: the UK government has given approval for defense manufacturer MBDA to declassify technical details of British-built components integrated into the SCALP long-range cruise missile. This regulatory and security move clears a major bureaucratic hurdle that has blocked progress on a joint plan between France and Ukraine to manufacture the SCALP weapon domestically on Ukrainian soil.
A string of other senior European leaders also made their way to the Ukrainian capital to join the commemorations and talks. Among those in attendance are European Council President Antonio Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and Estonian President Alar Karis, a showing that underscores the continued unified European support for Kyiv amid its ongoing conflict.
For context, the SCALP missile, developed and produced by France, shares deep technological roots with the UK’s own Storm Shadow long-range missile. Both weapons rely on shared technology developed jointly by French and British defense industries, making the declassification of UK-built components a critical step for any domestic production effort in Ukraine.
Beyond the missile announcement, Burnham’s schedule includes taking part in official Independence Day remembrance events and leading discussions at the coalition of the willing meeting, where participating leaders will debate the future of ongoing international military, economic and political support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.