Burnham and European leaders arrive in Kyiv as Ukraine marks Independence Day

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday, where he is expected to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and co-chair a meeting with the so-called coalition of the willing alongside other international leaders.

The visit coincides with Ukraine’s Independence Day, and is Burnham’s first overseas trip since taking office. Other European leaders also arrived in the capital, including European Council President Antonio Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Estonian President Alar Karis.

Burnham is expected to announce that the U.K. Government has agreed to allow defense company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile, according to his office. This would pave the way for France and Ukraine to advance plans for local production of the weapon in Ukraine.

SCALP is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems incorporating shared French and British technology.

Burnham is also expected to take part in Independence Day commemorations and discuss continued international support for Ukraine during the coalition of the willing meeting. Ukraine marks 35 years of independence on Monday following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

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