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Zelensky meets Burnham
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham at a naval base in Portsmouth, England, where they toured the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and discussed joint projects on drones.
“It is intended to send a very clear message: we are with Ukraine 100%”
Burnham told reporters, "It is intended to send a very clear message: we are with Ukraine 100%, I am personally with you 100%, and I will honour every commitment this country has made to Ukraine in full."
Zelensky said on his arrival that the key priorities were "air defence, maritime security, and joint defence production," as Britain prepared to offer Kyiv fresh help to breach Russian air defences.
The UK announced it would hand over the intellectual property behind its new "Stone Cloak" electronic warfare system, enabling Ukraine to produce the technology at scale.
The visit also came as Zelensky was set to meet US President Donald Trump, with the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, according to a White House official.
Stone Cloak and Sea Breeze
During the Portsmouth visit, Burnham announced the UK would share the intellectual property of its "Stone Cloak" electronic jammers, which can be used to interfere with Russian air defence systems.
Burnham said, "Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and proven on the front line, and it will be vital to protecting our security in both our countries," as the prime minister’s office described the support as unwavering.
The two leaders were expected to visit a naval base before linking up with more than 200 Ukrainian military personnel and sailors taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze in the UK over the last three weeks.
Euronews reported that the move would mean Kyiv could mass produce the devices for use on the front lines, and that the UK said it had already gifted thousands of the tablet computer-sized devices to Ukraine.
Zelensky said he hoped for a "productive" meeting and added, "For example, the Drone Deal. I want to build a big factory in Britain based on new technologies, share them with our partners."
War footing and next steps
The UK and Ukraine also discussed the need for more interceptors of ballistic missiles to counter Russian attacks, with Burnham saying the visit showed support "inébranlable" for defending Kyiv against Russia’s invasion.
“Vladimir Putin signed this Monday a decree authorizing the army to increase its manpower to 2,426,130 people”
La Presse reported that the leaders met on the HMS Queen Elizabeth at Portsmouth the day before Zelensky’s planned visit to US President Donald Trump in Washington.
In a separate update, 20 Minutes said Vladimir Putin signed a decree authorizing the army to increase its manpower to 2,426,130 people, including 1,535,000 military personnel, as Russia prepared 25,000 additional soldiers starting August 1.
20 Minutes also said five people were killed, including a child, in a nighttime Ukrainian drone attack on Rostov-on-Don, with drone debris damaging three buildings and 17 private homes, as local authorities said.
Al Jazeera reported that Burnham pledged the UK’s "unwavering support" during Zelensky’s visit as the two leaders traveled to Portsmouth to speak to armed forces personnel involved in training Ukrainian service members.
