- Prime Minister Andy hosts President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy as his first international visitor
- New British innovation set to bolster Ukrainian defences on
the front line before being rolled out to UK long range missiles
- Prime Minister vows to stand shoulder to shoulder with
Ukraine for as long as it takes
The Prime Minister will host the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in
the UK today [Monday 27 July], welcoming the Ukrainian leader to
the UK as his first international visitor since taking office.
The Prime Minister will use the visit to underline to President
Zelenskyy the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine, both through
the war and beyond.
The visit coming just a week after the Prime Minister took office
illustrates the strength of the relationship between the UK and
Ukraine, and the Prime Minister will vow this morning during a
military visit to continue the unbreakable beyond between the two
nations.
The leaders are expected to meet at a naval base before hearing
first-hand from Ukrainian and British personnel how the training
Ukraine's armed forces are receiving in the UK is making a real
difference on the front line.
The visit comes as the UK announces the sharing of intellectual
property with Ukraine for a new British capability dubbed Stone
Cloak.
Prime Minister said:
Britain stands with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder, and our
support remains unwavering.
Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve, and we will not
backdown until we achieve long lasting and just peace for
Ukraine.
Stone Cloak is the best of homegrown British innovation and
proven on the frontline, and it will be vital to protecting our
security in both our countries.
The electronic jammers are the size of a tablet computer and
hinder Russian air defence systems from tracking and targeting
the drones they are fitted to.
The device illustrates the ongoing rapid innovation being
developed between the UK and Ukraine under the 100 Year
Partnership.
Following the roll out in Ukraine, it is expected Stone Cloak
will be built into the next generation of UK deep-strike
capabilities, boosting national security and providing vital
enhancements to UK capability, including Project Brakestop the
UK's new low-cost cruise missile.
By sharing the intellectual property, Ukraine can now mass
produce Stone Cloak themselves, strengthening front line defences
and European defence.
Thousands of these electronic jammers have already been gifted to
Ukraine by the MOD helping its armed forces maintain drone
operations and knocking Russia a step back in their illegal
invasion on Ukraine.
During the visit today, the leaders will meet more than 200
Ukrainian military personnel and sailors who have been in the UK
for the past three weeks to take part in Exercise Sea Breeze, a
maritime security and counter-mine exercise to prepare for future
missions in the Black Sea.
The exercise builds on the full spectrum of support the UK
provides Ukraine, including £3 billion a year to Ukraine for as
long as it takes.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion, the UK's total support for
Ukraine has reached £25 billion, including £16 billion in
military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support.
Through investing in defence, the government is committed to
driving economic growth and opportunity in every postcode.
