During his visit to Kyiv, Burnham will provide Ukraine with the technology to produce SCALP missiles.
Kyiv • UNN
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will announce in Kyiv the disclosure of SCALP technologies to create assembly lines in Ukraine. London will also continue its military support.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is arriving in Kyiv on August 24 for his first foreign visit in office and will announce permission to disclose classified information about British components of SCALP missiles to create assembly lines in Ukraine. The British government reported this, UNN writes.
Details
Burnham's visit is taking place on Ukraine's Independence Day. In Kyiv, he is expected to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing for the first time, together with other world leaders.
The main defense decision during the visit will be the British government's authorization for defense company MBDA to disclose classified information about components of the SCALP long-range missile. This is intended to allow Ukraine and France to establish local assembly lines for such missiles on Ukrainian territory.
Britain is opening access to SCALP technology
SCALP is the French version of the British Storm Shadow missile. Both systems use shared French and British technologies.
The British government said the decision continues its support for Ukraine after the United Kingdom became the first country to provide Kyiv with long-range weapons in 2023 for defense against Russian aggression. The disclosure of technical information is expected to allow missile assembly in Ukraine to continue.
On the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the Ukrainian people should have no doubt: the United Kingdom supports you today and for as long as necessary
Burnham separately said that the United Kingdom would continue to support Ukraine in developing long-range strike weapons as part of the Breakstop project. According to him, London would also continue working with international partners on Ukraine's long-term security.
During his stay in Kyiv, the British prime minister will also take part in events marking Independence Day and co-chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. The United Kingdom says it has allocated a total of £25 billion in funding to support Ukraine, including £16 billion in military aid.