Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the United Kingdom on July 27, 2026, to meet with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Portsmouth. This marked Burnham’s first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader since assuming office. The encounter took place ahead of Zelensky’s scheduled trip to Washington, where he is expected to continue efforts to negotiate an end to the four-year conflict with Russia.
During their meeting on the dockside and aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, Burnham reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s “unwavering support” for Ukraine. He emphasized Britain’s commitment to standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Kyiv and pledged to uphold the country’s ongoing assistance until a lasting and just peace is secured. Zelensky described the partnership between the two countries as the strongest in their shared history and expressed gratitude for the support.
One of the key announcements during the visit was the provision of a new electronic jamming technology called “Stone Cloak,” designed to protect Ukrainian drones on the battlefield. Developed as part of a century-long collaboration between the UK and Ukraine, this tablet-sized, military-grade jammer interferes with Russian air defense systems to prevent them from tracking and targeting drones in flight. Thousands of these devices have already been supplied to Ukraine, with plans for expanded production, including potential manufacturing in Ukraine itself. Burnham described Stone Cloak as a top example of British innovation proven on the frontline, which will also be integrated into future UK deep-strike weaponry.
The leaders also discussed deepening defense cooperation, particularly in drone technology and joint production efforts. Zelensky highlighted these talks on the social media platform X, signaling interest in expanding technological collaboration between the two countries.
During their visit, Burnham and Zelensky met with around 200 Ukrainian military personnel currently training in Britain on maritime security and counter-mine operations, preparing for future missions in the Black Sea region. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has provided approximately £25 billion ($33 billion) in total support, including £16 billion in direct military aid.
Zelensky’s visit to Britain took place amid ongoing hostilities marked by intensified drone and missile attacks from both Russian and Ukrainian forces. His forthcoming trip to Washington is seen as an effort to reinvigorate stalled diplomacy, although US attention is reportedly divided due to the conflict in Iran. Zelensky is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump, with whom he has had a complex relationship, including a public dispute in early 2025 but improved interactions more recently.
In Washington, Zelensky is also expected to attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a known Israel supporter who died earlier this month. Trump has recently authorized Ukraine’s construction of US-designed Patriot air defense systems capable of countering ballistic missiles and is advancing legislation aimed at pressuring countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. Zelensky acknowledged the challenge posed by the US focus on the Middle East and the implications for Ukrainian diplomacy.