Burnham went to Kyiv. Now comes the harder journey to Washington

Andriy Dovbenko | 16th September 2026 | Defence, International

Photo by Henry Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Prime Minister’s first foreign visit was a welcome act of solidarity. But for Ukraine, British friendship will be judged by whether it can help unlock the air defence the country needs, writes Andriy Dovbenko.

I was genuinely pleased to see Andy Burnham choose Kyiv for his first overseas visit as Prime Minister. As a Ukrainian who lives and works in London, I do not dismiss gestures. The choice of destination mattered. So did the informality. The polo shirt and the guitar felt more human than another lectern, another flag arrangement and another carefully sanded declaration of concern. But despite the commonly expressed criticism, I would argue it also had substance. Britain is helping Ukraine take forward local assembly of the Storm Shadow/SCALP missile, while the new AI partnership recognises that Ukraine is now contributing to European security with concrete steps. The Prime Minister deserves credit for this. Still, while I applaud the visit, I must ask what must follow.

"Ukraine is holding its own on the ground, but the aerial war has become radically more difficult"

Ukraine is holding its own on the ground, but the aerial war has become radically more difficult. Russ...

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