UK prime minister pledges to rebuild Ukraine-US ties before Zelenskyy's visit

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wants to rebuild ties between Ukraine and the United States before meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in London. The visit is scheduled for October 14 at Downing Street.

Burnham said Zelenskyy would not leave Britain without new commitments for Ukraine. He said the government would prepare additional military and financial assistance in the coming weeks.

Expected decisions from London

Burnham is expected to promise new sanctions on Russia and announce faster deliveries of air-defence missiles to Ukraine. The UK will also urge its allies to increase pressure on Moscow.

Finance Minister John Healey will use meetings of the International Monetary Fund to seek a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas.

Tensions between Kyiv and Washington

Burnham's comments followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of an arrangement with Moscow involving imports of Russian diesel fuel. Trump said Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply the United States with millions of tonnes of fuel and that sanctions on Russian imports had been lifted.

Zelenskyy called the move a gift to Putin and said it would provide Russia with additional funds to continue the war. Trump responded that it was time for Ukraine to get a new president.

During parliamentary questions, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey asked whether Burnham agreed that the diesel arrangement was another betrayal of Ukraine and European security. Burnham did not criticise Trump, saying he was trying to create conditions for the sides to move closer again.

Strikes on energy infrastructure

Burnham said he spoke by phone with Zelenskyy on Saturday because the Ukrainian president was facing a difficult period ahead of winter. Zelenskyy said that overnight missile and drone attacks had left at least 600,000 people without electricity.

Ukraine reported damage to critical energy infrastructure. Russia said its strikes hit communications and energy facilities used by the Ukrainian military.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to stop attacking Russian refineries and other energy facilities if Moscow did the same. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine did not deserve the respite that a ceasefire could provide.

The visit will be Zelenskyy's second to the UK since Burnham became prime minister. A military guard of honour will receive him at Downing Street; the prime minister's office said no foreign leader had previously received such honours there. Zelenskyy is also due to meet King Charles.