Prime Minister Burnham offers Ukraine President Zelenskyy UK support in 'dark and difficult days'

Alex Wickham, Bloomberg News on Oct 14, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

LONDON — Prime Minister Andy Burnham reinforced the United Kingdom's support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up pressure on Kyiv and Russia hit the country’s energy plants with a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks.

“The last few days, the last few hours, have been very dark and difficult days for Ukraine,” Burnham said in his meeting with Zelenskyy in Downing Street on Wednesday. “In these moments, Britain will continue to provide you with whatever support that we can.”

In a piece of symbolism to highlight Britain’s support for Zelenskyy, the door to 10 Downing St. was flanked by a ceremonial guard clad in bearskin caps and red jackets to greet the Ukrainian president, a rare welcome for a visiting dignitary. Burnham walked down the street to greet Zelenskyy with a hug, before the two men posed for pictures in front of No. 10. Zelenskyy also met earlier with King Charles III.

The meeting was called after Trump last week announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Moscow to release diesel fuel to the global market, and the U.S. sought to force Ukraine to halt its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump also announced a “ceasefire” concerning energy infrastructure, but Moscow has continued to attack Ukrainian energy sites.

Burnham commended Zelenskyy for the “leadership” he showed in saying he would be prepared to discuss what an energy ceasefire would look like. “Sadly, what we have seen from Russia is further attacks on critical national infrastructure in Ukraine,” the prime minister said. “It’s clear to the world, again, who the aggressor is in this in this conflict.”

Zelenskyy said he was “thankful” for the U.K.’s backing, adding that there had been a “continuation of escalation” from Russia rather than a ceasefire. He also appeared to criticize the United States for “difficulties” Ukraine had experienced with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network, which is providing services to allow Ukraine to guide drones to attack Russia, and with intelligence sharing, issues he said he would discuss with Burnham.

Speaking in the U.K. Parliament earlier Wednesday, Burnham said that rather than criticize Trump’s actions, he would “try and repair bridges so that the support comes back.”

Earlier Wednesday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had not received some early warning information from its partners about Russian ballistic missile strikes in the last 24 hours.

Ukraine is seeking answers from the U.S. and NATO allies about a sudden restriction of SpaceX’s Starlink service for military use. SpaceX limited terminal connections that complicated Ukrainian drone interceptions and mid-range strikes, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The top priority for Kyiv’s allies, including Britain, is to ensure the U.S. does not stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, and in particular that American early warning systems continue to be used to protect civilian life.

The developments have piled pressure on Ukraine and its European allies to demonstrate that they have a strategy to continue to fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion, well into its fifth year. It also calls into question the U.K.’s long-standing approach of attempting to keep Trump onside.

While the U.S. didn’t inform the U.K. of the Trump-Putin deal ahead of time, Britain saw signs in the weeks preceding the announcement that the president was once again moving away from the European position, British officials said.

Ukraine still holds some cards even as it comes under renewed pressure from Trump, the people said. It is able to strike Russian oil refineries without U.S. intelligence by using European targeting data instead, they said. If Putin does not adhere to Trump’s ceasefire, Britain would back Ukraine to keep striking Russian energy infrastructure, they added.

Any cutting off of U.S. intelligence, which briefly happened last year, would be most damaging in terms of Ukraine’s defenses because it is reliant on a U.S. early warning system to defend against Russian attacks, they said. Kyiv’s allies would lobby the U.S. not to stop sharing intelligence, they added.

_____

(With assistance from Lucy White.)