In brief
Amid a fallout over President Donald Trump’s announced diesel import from Russia, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he must "repair bridges" between the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine. Ahead of a Downing Street audience with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Burnham is set to announce fresh sanctions on Russia and a faster delivery of air‑defence missiles for Kyiv. He also aims to rally allies, urging the International Monetary Fund to push for a ban on Russian LNG, while maintaining a careful, diplomatic tone toward the US President amid political tensions.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his role is to "repair bridges" between the United Kingdom, the United States and Ukraine after President Donald Trump announced a controversial diesel import from Moscow, which could fund the Russian war effort.
Asked about the Trump decision during Prime Minister's Questions, Burnham chose not to condemn the US President, instead stressing the need for careful diplomacy so that the support for Ukraine can be renewed. He added that Zelensky would not leave the UK "empty‑handed", spelling out that further financial and military aid would be finalized in the coming weeks.
Burnham is set to use the Downing Street audience to promise new sanctions against Russia and announce an accelerated delivery of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) to Kyiv. He will also urge allies to apply pressure on Russia, with Chancellor John Healey calling for a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas at an upcoming IMF meeting.
The meeting follows Zelensky’s second visit to the UK since Burnham took office, where a news conference in Portsmouth cemented the continuing partnership between the UK and Ukraine.
In a final note to his cabinet, Burnham reminded ministers that "the winter in Ukraine will be severe" and that the United Kingdom must be prepared with both political will and material support to help his nation endure the conflict.
