President Volodymyr Zelensky has become the first foreign leader to meet Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, with the pair holding talks aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth Naval Base. The choice of venue for Burnham’s first bilateral meeting since taking office underlines the continued importance the UK places on support for Ukraine.
The leaders met aboard the carrier as President Zelensky visited the UK to coincide with the conclusion of Sea Breeze 2026-2, the latest iteration of the long-running multinational exercise led by the United States and Ukraine. This year’s mine countermeasures phase has been centred on Portland, bringing together personnel from more than 20 nations to develop the techniques and technologies that would be required to reopen contested sea lanes and protect critical maritime infrastructure. The 5 Ukrainian minehunters will be based in Portsmouth until they are able to enter the Black Sea.
Following the meeting, President Zelensky thanked Britain for what he described as its unwavering support and welcomed a new package of UK-developed ‘Stone Cloak’ electronic warfare technology designed to improve the effectiveness and survivability of Ukrainian uncrewed systems. He said the equipment would help protect Ukrainian drones operating against Russian forces and highlighted further opportunities for cooperation on defence production and autonomous technologies.
In conversation with the First Sea Lord. The RN leads the Maritime Capability Coalition in cooperation with Norway, which assists Ukraine and shares naval experience learned from combat operations in the Black Sea.
The discussions focused on strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself both in the air and at sea, while expanding joint defence manufacturing. Maritime uncrewed systems, electronic warfare and other advanced technologies have become increasingly important as Ukraine continues to challenge Russian naval forces in the Black Sea despite having only a limited conventional fleet.
The visit also continues the close relationship between the RN and Ukraine that has developed since the full-scale Russian invasion. The RN has trained hundreds of Ukrainian personnel in mine warfare, diving and other specialist disciplines, while the UK has become one of Kyiv’s leading partners in developing maritime capabilities. Sea Breeze itself has evolved from a Black Sea exercise into an important demonstration of Allied determination to maintain Ukraine’s maritime expertise and prepare for the eventual restoration of freedom of navigation in the region.
HMS Queen Elizabeth recently completed an extensive docking period at Rosyth and is now the flagship of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force (Maritime), although final maintenance work continues. HMS Prince of Wales remains the UK’s high-readiness aircraft carrier for NATO tasking and returned to Portsmouth last week after 3 months away on the first phase of operation FIRECREST, operating in the High North.
The Ukrainian people are effectively fighting a defensive war on behalf of Europe. Their bravery, endurance and ingenuity are truly admirable. Every initiative and every penny that goes to support their resistance is money well spent. Russia is a gangster state with maximalist ambitions, the enemy of Europe and democracy, thankfully a fact that has clearly been recognised by the succession of British Prime Ministers of all political colours since the war began.
The decision to stage the meeting aboard the carrier therefore carried considerable symbolism. Aircraft carriers remain Britain’s most visible expression of military power and international influence, making HMS Queen Elizabeth an appropriate setting for discussions centred on deterrence, defence cooperation and long-term support for Ukraine.
President Zelensky has previously visited both RN aircraft carriers. Boris Johnson hosted him on board HMS Queen Elizabeth in October 2020 and he toured HMS Prince of Wales during his visit to the UK in February 2023. However, this is believed to be the first occasion a newly appointed British Prime Minister has chosen an aircraft carrier as the venue for their first bilateral meeting with a foreign head of government.