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Morning opening: Andy Burnham arrives in Ukraine
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Europe. I am kicking us off but Jakub Krupa will be taking over a little later on.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday alongside a number of European leaders to mark the country’s independence day.
Burnham was photographed at Kyiv railway station shaking hands with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, who said Burnham was to be joined by António Costa, president of the European Council; Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg; Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova; and Alar Karis, the president of Estonia.
“For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds. In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X announcing their arrival.
“And today, we know for sure who our true friends are.”
Burnham plans to announce during his visit that the UK government will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp long-range missiles to help Ukraine build its own version – a major boost to the country’s capacity in weapons development at a crucial time in the war.
Read more here:
Key events
Kiran Stacey in London and Dan Sabbagh in Dnipro
The UK prime minister will use the trip to announce that the UK government will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles to help Ukraine build its own version.
While the announcement will probably take years to have an impact on the war, it is likely to escalate tensions with Moscow at an already fraught moment in UK-Russian relations.
Burnham said in a statement on Sunday night:
“On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.
I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.
The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war. In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.
Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”
Burnham will announce in Kyiv that the UK will help France set up assembly lines in Ukraine for long-range missiles, which the French president, Emmanuel Macron, promised last month.
Later today, Burnham will co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing – alongside France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz – which will be held in a hybrid format, with some leaders dialling in from their capitals.
I will keep an eye on this for you.
UK's PM Burnham lays flowers at national military memorial cemetery on Ukraine's Independence Day - in pictures
European leaders join in congratulations on Ukraine's independence day
Several other European leaders published their best wishes for Ukraine on their social media channels, including German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Estonian president Alan Karis, Romanian president Nicușor Dan, and Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson.
“For years, Ukrainians both at home and abroad have been defending their country’s independence with remarkable courage against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. In doing so, they are showing the whole world what it means to stand up for freedom and for a just peace. Today, on this important day, this is particularly true. We stand firmly by Ukraine’s side,” Merz said in a short video.
Expect to hear from more leaders during the day.
'Ukraine will not fail,' Zelenskyy says as he marks 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day
Jakub Krupa
Burnham’s visit to Kyiv comes on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day, a holiday that understandably means so much more during the 1,643 days of the full-scale Russian invasion – and counting.
In a special address, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that “things are really very difficult for all of us,” but said the unity of all Ukrainians “is … holding us firmly by the hand.”
“And as long as the enemy does not break this circle of ours, Ukraine will not fall, will achieve its peace, and will succeed,” he said.
He said Russia’s Putin “got the most important thing wrong” when he underestimated the Ukrainian people’s willingness to fight for their country.
“Putin hopes that we are tired. But we know that he is mortal. He never understood us. Now he will not have time to.
You wanted to take all our Ukraine, all our land; instead, you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your profits, your entire generation that you sent into the meat grinder.
You wanted us erased from the map; now you are absent from the international agenda of the future civilisation. For 27 years, the head of Russia has talked about greatness, while Russia is standing in lines for gasoline.”
Zelenskyy also renewed his push for even more help from other European leaders, telling them “we are not asking you to fight for us, [but] to give Ukraine everything it needs to stop this war.”
Expect him to repeat this message to Burnham and other leaders in Kyiv throughout the day.
I will bring you all the latest here.
It’s Monday, 24 August 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
EU pledges $7.1bn in aid to Ukraine
The European Union has announced that it has approved €6.1bn ($7.1bn) in military aid for Ukraine.
“On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we show our unfaltering support,” Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, posted on X on Monday.
“Today, we approved €6.1 billion for the air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs. Europe stands with you today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.”
UK is 'four-square behind Ukraine’s independence', PM's office says
UK prime minister Andy Burnham will tell the Ukrainian people that the UK “is four-square behind Ukraine’s independence, and Russia’s threats only strengthen the UK’s resolve”, the PM’s office said on Monday.
In addition to announcing that Britain will boost Ukraine’s capacity to make its own long-range missiles, Burnham is expected to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.
Morning opening: Andy Burnham arrives in Ukraine
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Europe. I am kicking us off but Jakub Krupa will be taking over a little later on.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday alongside a number of European leaders to mark the country’s independence day.
Burnham was photographed at Kyiv railway station shaking hands with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha, who said Burnham was to be joined by António Costa, president of the European Council; Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg; Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova; and Alar Karis, the president of Estonia.
“For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds. In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X announcing their arrival.
“And today, we know for sure who our true friends are.”
Burnham plans to announce during his visit that the UK government will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp long-range missiles to help Ukraine build its own version – a major boost to the country’s capacity in weapons development at a crucial time in the war.
Read more here:
