Zelenskyy and Burnham discuss defence cooperation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Prime Minister Andy Burnham at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth on 27 July 2026, becoming the first foreign leader hosted by Mr Burnham since he entered Downing Street.
The talks focused on the UK’s continuing support for Ukraine, including defence cooperation, protection of critical infrastructure and joint work on military technology. The meeting also reaffirmed Britain’s political and diplomatic backing for Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The visit offered an early indication that the change of prime minister would not weaken the UK’s support for Kyiv. It also placed defence and European security among the first major foreign-policy issues addressed by the new government.
According to the official Downing Street account, the meeting took place at the Portsmouth naval base, where the two leaders discussed further cooperation between the UK and Ukraine.
