Burnham meets Zelenskyy: UK to share "Stone Cloak" drone stealth tech with Ukraine

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LONDON — Andy Burnham pledged a “close partnership” between the U.K. and Ukraine Monday after Volodymyr Zelenskyy became the first world leader to meet Britain’s new prime minister.

In a show of support, the pair toured a military base in Portsmouth, where 200 Ukrainian soldiers are currently completing maritime exercises.

Burnham said his meeting with the Ukrainian leader was “warm” and that he intends to visit the country soon.

“We will build this and we will work through the different issues that President Zelenskyy has, many of which we’ve gone into today,” Burnham said.

The meeting came as Britain announced it would share intellectual property to help Kyiv’s war effort.

The new prime minister announced that the U.K. will share its “Stone Cloak” electronic warfare system —devices attached to drones to help them evade detection — helping Ukraine to produce the technology on a mass scale.

Burnham has focused on domestic matters after taking over from Keir Starmer, who was criticized by some in his party for spending too much time overseas, and focusing on foreign affairs.

However, Burnham has sought to demonstrate there will be continuity in Britain’s Ukraine policy. In one of his first calls after becoming prime minister last week, Burnham invited Zelenskyy to visit the U.K. “at the earliest opportunity.”

Starmer spent his final full day as prime minister in Kyiv, where he announced £255 million of funding for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy told Sky on Monday that his phone call with Burnham had been “very good.” He said Starmer previously offered assurances that “the new government will continue their policy of supporting Ukraine during the war.”