British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will travel to Ukraine on Monday to announce a plan to support the domestic production of long-range missiles in the country. During his first overseas trip since taking office, Burnham is scheduled to co-chair a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" and meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The visit follows the election of the Labour leader as prime minister in July and a subsequent late July meeting with Zelenskiy in Britain. It comes as Ukraine has increased its use of long-range strike weapons to target Russian logistics and refineries. Britain has pledged more than £25 billion ($34 billion) in total military and civilian support to Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion.
According to the Prime Minister's office, Britain has agreed to permit the European missile manufacturer MBDA to share classified data regarding British-made components used in SCALP long-range cruise missiles. This authorization is intended to assist France and Ukraine in establishing local assembly lines for the weapon, which utilizes both British and French technology.
For those in the defense sector and international logistics, the shift toward local production in Ukraine represents a change in how military aid is delivered and sustained. The Russian government has already expressed opposition to British involvement, warning last week of "consequences" following reports that British-made drones were used for strikes within Russian territory. This visit signals that the Burnham administration intends to maintain the UK's position as a primary supplier and technical partner for the Ukrainian military.
The development may influence future policy regarding technology transfers and the establishment of industrial hubs in active conflict zones. The immediate next steps include the bilateral meeting between Burnham and Zelenskiy on Monday and the co-chairing of the "Coalition of the Willing" session. While the technical data release has been agreed upon, the specific timeline for when the first Ukrainian-assembled SCALP missiles will be operational was not reported.