Burnham receives Zelensky as first foreign guest in Portsmouth

A drone protection system with symbolic power

At the centre of the meeting was a military announcement: Burnham announced that Ukraine would henceforth receive the right to manufacture domestically a system developed in Britain to protect drones from jamming signals. The system bears the name "Stone Cloak" and, according to Burnham, is roughly the size of a tablet computer. According to the British government, thousands of units of this type have already been delivered to Ukraine. "Stone Cloak" is intended to shield Ukrainian drones against electronic jamming and prevent their interception by opposing forces.

Burnham also announced that Britain would provide new jamming technology to protect Ukrainian drones. He promised to fulfil in full all commitments Britain had previously entered into with regard to Ukraine. The British Prime Minister also announced that he was planning a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in the near future.

Continuity across party lines

For his part, Zelensky described the relationship between the two countries as "stronger than ever." The meeting fits into a line of British prime ministers who, regardless of their party affiliation, had positioned themselves as one of the closest Western supporters of Ukraine. According to available information, Burnham is the fifth British prime minister to work with Zelensky since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His predecessor Keir Starmer had visited the Ukrainian capital less than two weeks earlier as part of his final foreign trip.

War situation on the day of the meeting

The meeting came amid a phase of continued mutual attacks in the Russo-Ukrainian war. According to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow, Russian forces attacked three Ukrainian ports, including in Odesa, where loading and storage facilities for fuel for the Ukrainian army were hit. Ukraine, for its part, confirmed attacks on Russian oil facilities in the region. During the night, Ukrainian drones attacked the Russian cities of Rostov and Belgorod. In Rostov, several civilians were killed in a high-rise building, according to local authorities.

After the meeting in Britain, Zelensky will travel on to Washington. A further discussion with US President Donald Trump in the US capital is planned for Tuesday. Trump had previously described Zelensky as "brave" and, according to his own statements, supports tightened G7 sanctions against Russia.

Next stop Washington

The encounter in Portsmouth was described by London as a clear sign of Britain's continued support for Ukraine. From Burnham's office, it was stated that the visit underscored Britain's unshakable solidarity with Ukraine. The reception at the naval base, with the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in the background, also sent a military signal that recalled the maritime dimension of the conflict: both countries had previously coordinated on issues including the security of Black Sea routes and the training of Ukrainian naval units.

Domestic production in Ukraine

With the licence for domestic production of "Stone Cloak," Britain is going beyond previous forms of military aid. Until now, London had primarily delivered weapons and offered training. The ability to manufacture the drone protection system in Ukraine itself is intended to shorten supply chains and reduce dependence on vulnerable lines of resupply. Industry observers see this as an indication of a more industrialised and long-term support strategy.

Politically, the relationship between Britain and Ukraine remains stable despite the change of government in London. Burnham, who is described in reporting as a social-democratic politician, is thereby explicitly continuing the line of his predecessors. Observers also see the reception of Zelensky as the first foreign guest as a deliberate signal addressed to Moscow that Britain will not change its course towards Kyiv.

Open questions on scope and timeline

The precise scope of the new British military aid was not quantified in detail at the meeting. Nor were any concrete figures initially given on possible delivery times for the announced new jamming technology and for additional "Stone Cloak" devices. It also remains open when the reciprocal visit to Kyiv announced by Burnham will take place.

From Kyiv, it was meanwhile stated that the talks in Portsmouth had covered both bilateral and multilateral aspects, including coordination with European partners on further sanctions packages against Russia. No details were given. The Ukrainian side emphasised that exchanges with London should continue at regular intervals.

Britain has been one of the most important European supporters of Kyiv since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. London has, according to its own statements, provided both financial assistance and military equipment on a substantial scale. The close coordination between British and Ukrainian bodies is considered one of the pillars of the European support architecture for Ukraine.

The meeting at the naval base in Portsmouth proceeded without incident, according to official statements. A joint press statement was planned following the bilateral talks. Both sides were expected to emphasise the importance of the partnership as well as Zelensky's planned trip to Washington.

Overall, it is becoming apparent that the new British government is not only continuing the previous course of support for Ukraine but is in parts expanding it. The licence for domestic production of "Stone Cloak" and the announced new jamming technology are assessed in Kyiv as important building blocks for maintaining drone defence in the ongoing conflict. Whether and to what extent the United States under President Trump will adjust its own support is likely to become clear at the planned meeting in Washington on Tuesday.

Reporting on the meeting took place against the backdrop of ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian rear areas. Both sides accused each other of violations of international law. Independent observers were initially unable to fully verify individual claims.