Andy Burnham's first trip abroad as prime minister includes co-chairing a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing and holding talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The visit comes on Ukraine's Independence Day.
European allies turned up in number to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union (CCCP) on Monday, even as Kyiv reels under the strain of an existential fight to maintain that freedom in the face of a more than four-year military onslaught by the CCCP's successor — the Russian Federation.
In some ways, this Monday was no different than any other since February 24, 2022, in that the Kremlin threatened dire consequences for Ukraine and its European allies if they move against Russia, while at the same time its missiles and drones killed and maimed more Ukrainian civilians, driving death tolls to levels not seen since the first weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion.
In Kyiv, the 30 members of the so-called Coalition of the Willing pledged massive military aid as well as hardware and increased production cooperation during a morning meeting ahead of official Independence Day activities.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who traveled to Kyiv with Council of Europe President Antonio Costa, praised Ukraine as "Europe's protector" and told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the Coalition and the UK "are with you in this struggle all the way, heart and soul," before announcing that the UK would grant Kyiv access to long-range cruise-missile technology, "despite Russia's outrageous threats to my country."
French President Emmanuel Macron, who addressed allies remotely, warned that, "Russia will try to escalate against European countries in order to deter them from assisting Ukraine" and that NATO member states should be prepared.
Ukraine, too, continued its missile and drone strikes on Monday. These have hit deeper and deeper inside Russian territory, with target lists now expanded to include key Russian military and commercial infrastructure, such as logistics warehouses and oil storage facilities.
The damage created by these attacks prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to announce on Monday that he had authorized the state take over of any infrastructure that is not being sufficiently protected or is not being repaired quickly enough.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a presidential decree that will allow the Russian state to take control of critically important infrastructure facilities if they are deemed to be inadequately protected against Ukrainian attacks.
Reuters reports that under the decree, the state can take control of physical and financial assets, as well as ownership rights, if operators fail to protect critical facilities or are too slow to repair damage after an attack.
Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on oil refineries and warehouses. Overnight, Ukraine targeted four Ozon logistics hubs, according to Russia's second-largest online retailer. Over the past few weeks, Ukraine repeatedly targeted warehouses belonging to the country's largest online marketplace, Wildberries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says 10 Ukrainian prisoners of war, previously listed as missing in action, have been released in a prisoner exchange. Zelenskyy says the soldiers returned via Belarus. Minsk's BELTA state news agency also reported the swap, which saw 10 people returned to Russia.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Ukraine is "Europe's protector, not a drain on our security but the front line in keeping Europe safe." Speaking in Kyiv alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Council President Antonio Costa, Burnham compared Ukraine's resistance to Russia to the UK's fight against Nazi Germany.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa on Monday pledged that the European Union will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, "during the war, in future peace negotiations and in reconstruction."
Russia accused the UK of being a participant in the war on Ukraine's side. The accusation comes as UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reportedly intends to provide Ukraine with plans to build its own SCALP long-range cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets deep into Russia.
"Ukraine absolutely wants peace, but it's not ready to simply surrender," Zelenskyy said. Speaking during Ukraine's Independence Day celebrations, Zelenskyy rejected Russian demands that Ukraine give up the remaining parts of the Donbas region under its control.
Russia launched a Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the country's north on Monday, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In a statement, the ministry said the rocket was carrying a spacecraft "in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense."
The European Commission has approved an additional €6.1 billion ($7.12 billion) in financial aid for Ukraine to procure new defense systems. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the money is for "air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs."
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa have arrived in Kyiv. He was welcomed at Kyiv Railway Station by Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Moldova's President Maia Sandu and Estonia's President Alar Karis were also in Kyiv to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence with Sybiha.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces struck a tanker carrying fuel and lubricants for Ukrainian troops at the port of Pivdennyi near the southern city of Odesa. The ministry said the attack also hit port infrastructure used to unload and store military cargo.
Ukraine has struck warehouses belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Ozon on three consecutive days, with the company reporting another logistics center on fire. Ozon said a "major fire" broke out at one of its logistics centers in the southern Krasnodar region following a drone attack.
