PM pledges 'rock-solid' support ahead of Zelenskyy visit after Trump's diesel deal with Russia

Andy Burnham will welcome Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Downing Street today in a show of support days after Donald Trump's controversial diesel deal with Russia.

The prime minister is expected to use the visit to announce an acceleration of military support for Ukraine, and to pledge further rounds of sanctions aimed at Moscow.

Ahead of his meeting Ukraine's president, Mr Burnham said the UK's support for Ukraine was "rock solid" and that the UK was "with you for as long as it takes".

The accelerated support will see faster deliveries of British lightweight multirole missiles to Ukraine, which have proved effective against Russian jet-powered drones.

The UK will also urge its allies to increase the pressure on Russia, with the chancellor using meetings in Bangkok this week to call for a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas.

The prime minister has also asked ministers to draw up further sanctions, military aid, and fiscal packages to provide urgent support in the coming weeks.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Burnham said: "My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer.

"We are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe.

"It is not just the right thing to do, but it's the necessary thing to do. Russia's aggression cannot be allowed to succeed on our continent."

The UK-Ukraine meeting follows what Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described as a "very difficult few days" in relations with Washington following Mr Trump's decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel.

That decision, made ahead of US midterm elections that have been overshadowed by rising fuel prices, has led to renewed tensions between Washington, Kyiv and its allies, including the UK.

The deal was also criticised by a group of six Republican and six Democrat senators who jointly warned that the lifting of sanctions was "a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our allies".

The sign of support comes after the US president suggested Mr Zelenskyy should be replaced as Ukraine's leader and claimed Mr Putin, who triggered the conflict by launching the invasion back in 2022, wanted a peace deal more.

More from Sky News:
Raye says gig sign-up was 'overwhelmed' by ticket touts
MI5: AI 'supercharging' security threats to UK

The UK responded to news of the deal by pledging to "maintain pressure on Russia", while Mr Burnham telephoned the Ukrainian president on Saturday to express his "complete solidarity".

On Tuesday, fears were raised that the US had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv after Mr Zelenskyy said his government had received no warning from its partners about a Russian ballistic missile strike the previous evening.

The US president insisted Washington was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine as he left the White House for a campaign trip to Alaska later the same day.

However, on Tuesday night, Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had suffered further ballistic missile attacks with no warning, including a strike on one of Kyiv's main power plants.

It'll be the fourth time Zelenskyy and Burnham have met in recent months, after the pair last held a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

(c) Sky News 2026: PM pledges 'rock-solid' support ahead of Zelenskyy visit after Trump's diesel deal with Russia