Burnham Pledges Further UK Support for Ukraine Ahead of Zelenskyy Visit
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged his country's "rock-solid" support for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to visit London on Wednesday, his first trip to a European capital since U.S. President Donald Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel exports last Friday. Ahead of the Downing Street meeting, Burnham urged international allies to tighten sanctions on Russia and called on Vladimir Putin to agree to an energy ceasefire.
In a statement, Burnham said Britain stands with Ukraine "for as long as it takes" and will "go further and faster" in backing its fight, arguing that Russian aggression cannot be allowed to succeed. He has asked ministers to draw up proposals for further sanctions, military aid and fiscal support in the coming weeks.
Concrete measures announced include £45 million worth of surface-to-air missiles and a British ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas. The U.K. will also accelerate deliveries of more than 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles to Ukraine over the next four years, funded with £1.6 billion.
Chancellor John Healey will use meetings at the International Monetary Fund in Bangkok to press other countries to adopt an equivalent LNG ban, arguing it would cut into the war chest funding Putin needs. European leaders are meanwhile expected to use Thursday's European Council summit to endorse stronger sanctions on Moscow after Trump's deal easing restrictions on Russian diesel.
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