Zelenskyy Meets UK PM Andy Burnham In London As Britain Speeds Up Missile Aid Against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in London on Wednesday to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as Britain pledged faster air defence missile deliveries, additional military assistance and fresh sanctions against Russia amid intensifying attacks on Ukraine.

The visit comes as Kyiv faces mounting pressure ahead of winter, growing uncertainty over US support and renewed concerns about Russian strikes on critical infrastructure. Zelenskyy is also scheduled to meet King Charles III during his visit.

Britain announced a £45 million package of surface-to-air missiles, including £10 million worth of deliveries to be accelerated to address Ukraine’s urgent requirements. The British Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) are designed to counter Russian jet-powered drones, which fly faster and higher than propeller-driven Shahed drones, making them more difficult to intercept.

London has already committed £1.6 billion to supply more than 5,000 LMMs to Ukraine over four years. Burnham has also instructed officials to prepare further military assistance, financial support and sanctions against Moscow. Britain is urging allies to restrict maritime services supporting Russian liquefied natural gas exports.

The diplomatic push follows Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday that killed two people and injured 21. The attack damaged a nine-storey residential building and struck Thermal Power Plant No. 4, highlighting the vulnerability of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter. Zelenskyy said intelligence indicated that further Russian missile launches were being prepared.

The Ukrainian president also criticised the absence of advance warnings from Western partners before the strikes. US officials have reportedly considered restricting intelligence sharing and weapons supplies if Kyiv continues attacking Russian oil refineries. However, US President Donald Trump said Washington was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

Relations between Washington and Kyiv have also been strained by Trump’s announcement of a deal allowing more than 2.25 million barrels of Russian diesel to enter US and global markets. Reuters reported that Trump’s envoys presented the deal as an attempt to encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume peace negotiations. Trump has also urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries.

Burnham reiterated Britain’s commitment to Kyiv, saying the UK would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”. London has also urged Moscow to respect the proposed energy ceasefire, although the Kremlin says details remain under discussion.

The meeting follows Burnham’s first foreign trip to Kyiv in July, when he offered to share technology for developing long-range missiles. Russia subsequently accused Britain of participating in the war on Ukraine’s side.