Andy Burnham embraced Volodymyr Zelensky outside Downing Street today, offering a visible show of support for Ukraine’s president as tensions with Donald Trump intensified.
The Prime Minister greeted Mr Zelensky warmly before the pair entered No 10 for talks. The Ukrainian leader received a red-carpet welcome and an unusually prominent guard of honour formed by soldiers from the Irish Guards.
Foreign Office employees also gathered to welcome Mr Zelensky, cheering as he arrived at Downing Street.
The scene echoed the embrace offered by Mr Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer, after Mr Zelensky’s explosive White House confrontation with Mr Trump in March last year.
Addressing MPs in the Commons earlier on Wednesday, Mr Burnham described Mr Trump’s diesel agreement with Vladimir Putin as a “dark moment” for Ukraine. He also promised to work towards “repairing bridges” between Washington and Kyiv.
The US President has relaxed sanctions on Russian diesel ahead of America’s closely watched midterm elections, with the campaign affected by sharply rising fuel costs.
Andy Burnham embraced Volodymyr Zelensky in Downing Street today, delivering a public message of support for the Ukrainian president during his latest dispute with Donald Trump
The Prime Minister welcomed Mr Zelensky with a red-carpet ceremony and guard of honour outside No 10 before the two leaders went inside for talks
Foreign Office staff applauded as Mr Zelensky arrived for his meeting in Downing Street
Mr Trump has relaxed sanctions on Russian diesel ahead of the pivotal US midterm elections
In recent days, Mr Trump has also indicated that Ukraine may require a different leader to replace Mr Zelensky, while arguing that Mr Putin is more eager than Kyiv to reach a peace agreement.
Ukraine, meanwhile, accused the United States of helping Russia’s military campaign after key internet services were reportedly throttled overnight on Wednesday.
A speed restriction placed on some Starlink services, operated by SpaceX and owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, reportedly left Kyiv with little or no advance warning of incoming Russian attacks.
Igor Novikov, a former adviser to Mr Zelensky, told Times Radio that whoever was responsible for restricting Ukraine’s Starlink access—whether Mr Trump or Mr Musk—“has now got blood on their hands”.
Opening the Downing Street meeting, Mr Burnham assured Mr Zelensky that Britain’s commitment to Ukraine “will not change”.
“You have seen the solidarity and support you have received from everyone here in Britain,” the Prime Minister said. “We stand with you, and that will not change.”
He described the previous few days as “dark and difficult” for Ukraine, noting that the country had endured “heavy bombardment in the last 24 hours”. Mr Burnham also expressed Britain’s condolences to families who had lost loved ones.
Mr Burnham said Mr Zelensky was willing to meet and discuss the energy ceasefire suggested by Mr Trump, but added that Russia had continued striking Ukraine’s vital national infrastructure.
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“At moments like these, Britain will continue giving you every form of support that we can,” he said.
Mr Zelensky thanked Britain for standing by his country, saying Ukraine’s people had survived and continued their fight because of strong allies. He told Mr Burnham he was proud that Britain remained “one of the strongest partners in our history”.
During his meeting with Mr Zelensky, the PM confirmed that the UK would accelerate the supply of crucial air defence missiles to Ukraine amid Russia’s brutal bombardment.
The accelerated support will see faster deliveries of British lightweight multi-role missiles to Ukraine, which have proved effective against Russian jet-powered drones.
Mr Burnham also said he had asked his ministers to examine other options for supporting Ukraine, telling Mr Zelensky they were ‘looking at all possible avenues’.
Speaking in the House of Commons earlier on Wednesday, Mr Burnham branded Mr Trump’s new diesel deal with Vladimir Putin a ‘dark moment’ for Ukraine
Mr Zelensky met with Mr Burnham in Downing Street after earlier meeting with King Charles in Buckingham Palace
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions ahead of his talks with Mr Zelensky on Wednesday, Mr Burnham said the Ukrainian President was ‘carrying the heaviest of weights right now’.
Mr Burnham also set out his intent to try and fix relations between Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, as he told MPs he was being ‘careful’ in his language.
‘I called him on Saturday because I recognised it was another very dark and difficult moment for him as they contemplate a winter that will be severe for his people,’ the PM said.
‘I recognise that he is carrying the heaviest of weights right now and it is extremely difficult for him.
‘What I have to do in my role is try and repair bridges so that the support comes back. So I should, at this moment in time, be careful in terms of laying the ground to bring people back together.
‘That is the role I intend to play, it’s the right role for me to play in this moment. I will listen to President Zelensky carefully, but he won’t be going away from Britain today empty-handed.’
Mr Burnham made the comments after being challenged by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to condemn Mr Trump’s ‘shameful’ betrayal of Ukraine.
‘Scared of the mid-terms, President Trump has done a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, ripping up international sanctions against Putin,’ Sir Ed said.
‘The PM studiously avoided commenting on Trump’s behaviour on Monday.
‘But this House does deserve to know his position as does, frankly, president Zelensky and our brave Ukrainian allies.
‘So let me ask the PM this, doesn’t he agree this is yet another shameful Trump betrayal of the Ukrainian people and European security?’
