UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will visit Kyiv, Ukraine, on the 24th (local time) for his first overseas trip since taking office last month, the Prime Minister's Office announced on the 23rd.

In a statement issued ahead of the visit, Prime Minister Burnham said, "As Ukraine marks its 35th Independence Day, the Ukrainian people should have not a shred of doubt."

"Britain stands with you today, and for as long as it takes," he added.

The visit comes immediately after the announcement that MBDA, a joint defense venture between the UK, France, and Italy, has agreed to share classified information on British-made components for the Storm Shadow long-range missile (known as SCALP in France) to establish a local assembly line in Ukraine.

Regarding this decision, the Prime Minister's Office stated, "France and Ukraine will now be able to proceed with the local assembly of the missiles in Ukraine," adding, "This is part of the UK's efforts to rapidly develop low-cost, advanced long-range weapons for Ukraine through the Brakestop project."

The Brakestop project is a British plan to develop affordable, miniaturized weapons equivalent to the Storm Shadow entirely independent of U.S. technological controls or components, aimed at supporting Ukraine.

Prime Minister Burnham will also co-chair for the first time a virtual meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing," a group of nations supporting Ukraine, from Kyiv.
(Photo: Getty Images Korea)