Andy Burnham, Britain’s new prime minister, welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United Kingdom at a naval base in Portsmouth on Monday, making him Burnham’s first international visitor since taking office. Burnham emphasized that the choice was “no accident,” signaling the importance of the visit and Britain’s continued engagement with Ukraine.
During the visit, Burnham assured Zelenskyy of the UK’s continuing support for Ukraine. Burnham is the fifth British prime minister to deal with President Zelenskyy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Some sources have noted this as a symbolic start for a prime minister who has expressed a desire to focus on domestic issues, while also reflecting that international matters are demanding his attention from the outset.
Beyond the Ukraine meeting, Burnham has been addressing domestic policy concerns in his early days in office. In BBC interviews, he has discussed plans for reforming social care, making council tax fairer, and has ruled out calling an early election, indicating his initial focus on tackling home affairs.
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