Burnham pledges unwavering UK backing to Zelensky as US lifts Russian diesel sanctions

What Happened

Andy Burnham told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "We are behind you and that will not change," during a ceremony in Downing Street that included a military guard. Zelensky was in London to shore up support after US President Donald Trump called for him to go and announced the lifting of sanctions on Russian diesel. The UK also said it would speed up delivery of lightweight multirole missiles that have been used to shoot down Russian drones.

Reaction

Burnham described the past days as "dark and difficult" for Ukraine, noting heavy bombardment and the loss of electricity for at least 600,000 people after Russian missile and drone strikes. He avoided directly blaming Trump, saying his role was to repair bridges and ensure Ukraine would not leave the trip "empty‑handed." A Downing Street spokeswoman said the leaders discussed Russia's indiscriminate attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure and promised continued development of innovative battlefield solutions, including retrofitting British tech onto equipment from other partners.

Context

Trump’s diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin releases an initial 300,000 tonnes of fuel, a move that runs counter to sanctions aimed at cutting off money for the war. The deal is linked to US domestic concerns over fuel prices ahead of the November elections and has drawn criticism from European allies.