Prime Minister Burnham and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a Royal Navy base in Portsmouth, where they met British and Ukrainian troops taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze. The visit underscored Britain's commitment to supporting Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.
The two leaders met at a Royal Navy base in Portsmouth, where they visited British and Ukrainian troops taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a multinational military training exercise involving 15 countries.
More than 200 Ukrainian service members have participated in this year's exercise, which focuses on strengthening maritime capabilities and improving counter-mine operations.
The visit was intended to demonstrate that Britain's support for Ukraine will continue under the new government.
Ahead of the meeting, Burnham said the UK stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Ukraine and would continue supporting the country until a "long-lasting and just peace" was achieved.
Speaking alongside Zelenskyy, Burnham said the UK would remain committed to Ukraine "for as long as it takes".
"Volodymyr, I want you to know that we've got your back, you can count on me, and you can count on us," he said.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine's relationship with Britain was "stronger than ever", adding that he hoped the close ties between the two countries would continue during and after the war.
Defence cooperation was also a key focus of the visit, with discussions including Stone Cloak, a British-developed electronic warfare system designed to protect drones from detection by enemy air defences.
The UK has shared the technology behind the system with Ukraine, allowing it to manufacture the devices domestically. Thousands of the systems have already been supplied to Ukrainian forces, and the technology is expected to be incorporated into future British long-range weapons.
Burnham said the equipment would help Ukraine "hit its targets" and "save Ukrainian lives".
The Prime Minister also said Britain would continue pushing for a full and unconditional ceasefire, while insisting that any negotiations must include Ukraine and give Europe a strong voice.
According to Downing Street, the UK has committed £25 billion in support for Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, including £16 billion in military assistance.
The visit comes days after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer travelled to Kyiv on his final full day as Labour leader. During that trip, he announced additional funding for Ukraine and was awarded Ukraine's Order of Freedom by President Zelenskyy.
In one of his first calls after becoming Prime Minister, Burnham invited Zelenskyy to visit the UK "at the earliest opportunity".
After leaving Britain, Zelenskyy is expected to travel to Washington for further talks with U.S. officials as efforts continue to find a path towards ending the war.
The Ukrainian president has repeatedly called for security guarantees and continued international backing, warning that any peace agreement must protect Ukraine's sovereignty and independence.
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