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

Andriy Dovbenko | 16th September 2026 | Defence, International, Kyiv
Photo by Henry Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



What Can Britain Expect for Defence Spending in the Autumn Budget?

Anna Bryzhko | October 22, 2026

The government has pledged billions more for Britain's military. But can it finance those promises without squeezing other public services?

End of the gilded age for Caribbean passports?  

Mace | October 20, 2026

Ahead of Commonwealth leaders gathering in Antigua, The Mace reports on how Brussels wants to stop the Caribbean “golden passport” trade

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Drive Faces Fresh Test as Major Investigations Advance

Anna Bryzhko | October 20, 2026

October developments in investigations into defence procurement and a former deputy prime minister have renewed scrutiny of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions as Kyiv pursues EU membership.

Racketeering, human rights abuse, and intimidation: Lucy Carrier-Pilkington investigates a cautionary tale about investment in Uzbekistan

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 15, 2026

"The rule of law is in jeopardy" according to leading human rights expert

Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal: A Turning Point in US Policy Towards Moscow? 

Anna Bryzhko | October 15, 2026

The US says its Russian diesel deal is about bringing down fuel prices. But for Ukraine and America’s European allies, the move raises a bigger concern: whether Washington

Europe has condemned Iran’s attacks against the UK, but it’s time for action 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 13, 2026

The European Foreign Ministers have issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s violent attacks, but does a statement go far enough? 

The changing fortunes of Ukraine’s oligarchs

Anna Bryzhko | October 13, 2026

Ferrexpo’s $100m fundraising highlights the changing relationship between Ukraine’s business elite and the state, as war, economic disruption and institutional reforms reshape the country’s political and commercial landscape.

Business under pressure: What Ukraine’s resilience reveals about Britain’s new security risks

Anna Bryzhko | October 8, 2026

As Britain brings business leaders into Whitehall for briefings on Russian threats, Ukraine offers an extreme case study in how companies keep operating when power, logistics and digital

The legal war over Russia’s frozen billions 

Ella Beadman | October 7, 2026

Russia has opened a new legal front against the EU over its frozen sovereign reserves.

Kaliningrad Is Where Putin Is Testing Europe’s Defences

Azeem Ibrahim OBE | October 6, 2026

Europe may already be entering a new phase of confrontation with Russia, one in which the distinction between peace and conflict becomes increasingly difficult to identify.