Andy Burnham, the newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his first foreign engagement since taking office.
According to the Guardian on July 26, Burnham will hold talks with President Zelensky on July 27 at a British naval base where Ukrainian forces have been training.
Zelensky will be the first foreign leader to visit the UK since Burnham's inauguration last week. The new Prime Minister has pledged to continue the support for Ukraine initiated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer in response to Russia's invasion.
The two leaders are expected to meet with British and Ukrainian troops participating in the multinational naval exercise 'Sea Breeze,' which involves 15 countries and focuses on mine countermeasures and maritime operations in the Black Sea.
Burnham and Zelensky will also discuss joint projects, including the electronic warfare disruption device 'Stone Cloak,' which the UK has shared intellectual property rights for. This device, about the size of a tablet, is mounted on drones to interfere with Russian air defense systems tracking or targeting them.
The UK has supplied thousands of Stone Cloak devices to Ukraine, which is now producing them domestically. After validating their performance on the battlefield, Ukraine plans to equip them on new British weapons, including cruise missiles.
In a statement released before his visit, Burnham emphasized, "The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, and our support will not waver." He added, "Russia should not doubt our resolve, and we will not back down until a sustainable and just peace is achieved for Ukraine."
Burnham described Stone Cloak as "one of the highest levels of British innovation technology, proven in the field," stating it will play a crucial role in safeguarding the security of both the UK and Ukraine.
President Zelensky is among the first world leaders to communicate with Burnham following his appointment. He previously expressed a desire to build a close relationship with Burnham and to meet as soon as possible during a joint press conference with former Prime Minister Starmer.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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