UK's Burnham welcomes Zelenskiy as first foreign visitor

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - Britain's ‌new prime ​minister, ​Andy Burnham, welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as his first international visitor on Monday, in a move ‌that underscores London's steadfast support for Ukraine, Burnham's office ⁠said.

• The two leaders met at a naval base, where they ‌were due to hear how ‌UK-led training programmes are helping strengthen Ukraine's armed forces and deliver results on the battlefield, according to Downing Street.

• "Britain ​stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our support remains unwavering," Burnham said in a statement. "Russia should be in ⁠no doubt of our resolve, and we will not back down until we achieve ​long-lasting and just peace for Ukraine."

• During the visit, Burnham and Zelenskiy were due to meet ​more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel ‌and sailors who have spent the past three weeks in Britain taking part in Exercise Sea ⁠Breeze, a maritime security and counter-mine exercise designed to prepare participants for future missions in the Black Sea.

• Since Russia's full-scale invasion ⁠in 2022, the UK's total support for Ukraine has reached £25 billion ($33.3 billion), ​including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support, Burnham's office said.

• On Monday, Burnham, who was speaking alongside Zelenskiy, said Britain would ‌provide new, home-grown jamming technology to protect Ukrainian drones in the war.

• Burnham's predecessor Keir Starmer ‌visited Kyiv days before he stood down earlier this month, ⁠where he pledged €300 million ($345 ‌million) to help equip ​Ukraine with a squadron of 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets.

($1 = 0.7508 pounds)

(Reporting by Paul SandleEditing by Ros ‌Russell)

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