The square of the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv has become an impregnable fortress this morning. All eyes in the capital were on the temple, where the President of the European Council, António Costa, the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, on his first international trip, and other European leaders gathered to support President Zelenski on the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. Burnham is also said to have arrived with good news: during today he plans to share the plans for his long-range missiles for production in Ukraine, according to British media reports.
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The event — and this possible British announcement — aims to be a breath of fresh air after a terrible summer, marked by the deadliest wave of Russian attacks against civilians since the start of the war in spring 2022. The latest major attack caused at least 19 deaths after two drones exploded in the Kriví Rih shopping center, Zelenski’s hometown, in the center of the country. The high number of civilian casualties has highlighted Ukraine’s weakness due to a lack of long- and medium-range missile interceptors. The massive use of Patriot air defense systems during the conflict between the United States and Iran has strained global reserves, leaving Ukraine without enough missiles to protect itself from Russian attacks. At the same time, Ukraine has also intensified its attacks in Russia against logistical and energy infrastructures, particularly refineries and commercial warehouses.
The growing British involvement in the Ukraine conflict causes unease in the Kremlin
“There is no doubt that Ukraine will be independent forever,” Zelenski promised before awarding medals to the families of soldiers who died in the conflict and other honors to Ukrainian military and civilians. “Ladies and gentlemen, Ukraine’s adversaries will not emerge victorious. After more than four years of large-scale war, Russia has not achieved its objectives. The human cost has been devastating and the economic consequences disastrous,” Costa recalled, leading the community delegation. “Your courage and bravery inspire the world,” the Portuguese emphasized, after receiving on behalf of the Twenty-Seven the Order of Europe from the Ukrainian leader.
The President of the European Council met last night with Burnham on the train to Kyiv, where they shared the long overnight journey from the Polish border to the Ukrainian capital. The successor to Keir Starmer’s trip takes place at a tricky moment, after media reported that Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, to pressure London to reconsider its support for Ukraine. It is also the first international trip as British Prime Minister for the former mayor of Manchester, who seeks to reaffirm to his allies that nothing has changed in diplomatic and military support for Kyiv. “This is my first visit abroad and I hope it tells you something about the importance I give to your cause,” Burnham explained in his speech.
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However, the United Kingdom’s participation as a supplier of military material has provoked several threats from the Kremlin, which states that the greater the British involvement in the conflict, the greater the consequences will be. The issue of air defense will be the focus of this Monday’s meeting of the volunteer coalition, which Costa and Burnham will attend in person and the rest of the allies via videoconference. The European Union also announced today the unlocking of a new tranche of 6.1 billion euros to Ukraine to strengthen its air defense and its missile and ammunition capabilities.
“I know you need more help to protect your sky and your civilians. I know how hard the winters have been and that you have to be prepared this year, when night falls. That is why, later today, I will take the reins of the volunteer coalition, together with President Macron and Chancellor Merz. I am determined that we work together to provide you with the support you need,” promised the new British leader in Saint Sophia square.
According to British media, during his first trip to Ukraine Burnham hopes to announce that he will allow the European defense company MBDA to declassify information about the British components of the Storm Shadow missile. Moscow recently threatened “consequences” for the alleged use of British drones by Ukraine against Russia.
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