Volodymyr Zelensky and Andy Burnham are going to meet on a British naval base on Monday – as Britain shares vital know-how on how to make state-of-the-art Stone Cloak jammers to prevent Russia tracking drones
Volodymyr Zelensky will become the first world leader to meet Andy Burnham, as the two hold a crunch meeting in the UK on Monday.
The Ukrainian President is expected to join the Prime Minister at a British naval base, where the PM will share vital know-how to help produce state-of-the-art electronic jammers to block Russian defence systems. This will allow Ukraine to mass produce devices, known as Stone Cloak, to prevent its drones being tracked and targeted.
Mr Burnham described the technology as “the best of homegrown British innovation”. He said: “Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering. Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine.
“Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries.”
No10 said the UK is sharing the intellectual property for Stone Cloak, which will be built into the next generation of UK deep-strike capabilities. The British military will use the jammers to enhance Project Brakestop – the UK’s new low-cost cruise missile. Thousands of the tablet-sized devices have already been gifted to Ukraine to help with drone operations.
No10 said the move knocks Russia a step back in Putin’s illegal invasion on Ukraine. During Mr Zelensky’s visit, he and Mr Burnham will meet more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel and sailors who have been training in the UK for the past three weeks.
The UK has previously pledged £3billion a year to Ukraine to help fight Russia for as long as it takes – providing a total of £25bn in support since 2022.
It comes as Mr Burnham revealed he was prepared to stand up to Donald Trump, if it were in Britain’s national interest. In an interview with the BBC, to be screened in full on Monday, he said: “Well, I’ve had one phone call. I always treat people as I find them, and it was a good exchange. It was, as I said before, a warm exchange.
“So I am that kind of politician, I always judge people as I find them. I’ve lived my whole life by that. And I found him to be really warm on Monday. But obviously we will continue to build the relationship as we go forward.”
Pressed by journalist Laura Kuenssberg on whether he would be prepared to call out the President if needed, Mr Burnham said: “Of course… all leaders have to do that. You have to defend your own national interest before anything else.
“That’s what you’re required to do if you’re to do this job properly. I will always put Britain’s interests first.” His predecessor, Keir Starmer, had a difficult relationship with the US President after he refused to allow US forces to use British bases to launch aggressive strikes on Iran.
On Sunday new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said he had spoken to US counterpart Pete Hegseth, and made clear that position would continue. But he stated the two nations were working together on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The vital shipping route, which transports 20% of the world’s natural gas and oil supplies, has been effectively shut by Iran after the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28.
Mr Streeting told Sky News: “I was clear that we’ve not supported offensive action in Iran and we won’t support offensive action in Iran, but there are plenty of things that we can and should do together when it comes to securing the Strait of Hormuz, in making sure that Iran doesn’t develop nuclear weapons, in terms of investing in our capability and Nato’s capability.”
He said the closure is having a big economic impact and admitted: “But it’s hard to undertake that work, of clearing the strait and securing commercial shipping while hostilities continue. And that’s why every effort is being made, particularly by allies in the region, to try and bring about the conditions where we can achieve that.”
Describing relations with the Trump administration he said: “The first thing you do is you don’t suck up. And I don’t think, my impression is, President Trump, his administration, that’s not what they’re looking for, actually. He’s a straight talker.”
Asked if he trusts the US President, the Defence Secretary said: “Well, I don’t know him, but I do trust the United States.” He said the relationship between the two nations is unlike any in the world.
At the weekend John Healey, the new Chancellor, promised a “buy British” blitz within the UK government. He told The Sun: “You will see this as a determined drive that you have not seen before from a British government. Buying British not ‘if possible’, but by design. So every procurement pound supports British jobs, British apprenticeships and British skills.”
He pointed out that when he was Defence Secretary, over 86% of the 1,200 major defence contracts handed out went to British firms. The government is yet to set a timetable for reaching 3% of the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) on defending the nation. Mr Healey told the Sun this was “not a matter for this first week”.