Following the latest tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to turn once again toward Europe and visit London raises new questions about the future of the war in Ukraine. The most fundamental of these concerns the strategies pursued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe regarding the war. What each actor seeks to achieve through this conflict remains a highly ambiguous issue.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, accuses the Burnham government of wanting the war in Ukraine to continue.[i] Indeed, in recent months, London has been developing plans to accelerate military aid to Kyiv and working to expedite the delivery of multipurpose missiles, particularly surface-to-air missiles. In addition, Burnham, who conveyed Zelensky’s request for Patriot missiles to Donald Trump, aims to secure U.S. support to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs.[ii] Regardless of whether Washington provides such support, London remains one of the European actors offering the greatest assistance to Ukraine in its efforts to intensify the war of attrition against Russia. It would not be an exaggeration to describe the United Kingdom as the most significant driving force behind Ukraine in this regard. During the Burnham–Zelensky Summit on October 14, 2026, London is expected to announce a new missile support package worth a total of £45 million. Of this amount, £10 million is reportedly planned to be brought forward to address urgent needs. The systems in question also include lightweight multipurpose missiles used against Russia’s jet-powered attack drones.[iii]
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have made air defence critically important. Disruptions to electricity generation, heating, and energy distribution during the winter months could undermine Ukraine’s resilience in the war. The timely delivery of air defence systems is therefore essential not only to intercept attacks but also to preserve Ukraine’s societal resilience. Accordingly, London is signalling that it will continue to support Kyiv amid the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s policy. In this respect, it is no coincidence that Zelensky’s visit to London comes at a time when relations between Washington and Kyiv have become strained. Trump has argued that Ukraine’s leadership under Zelensky needs to change and has moved toward a controversial arrangement envisaging the easing of sanctions related to Moscow and Russian diesel exports.[iv] By contrast, Burnham seeks to maintain economic pressure on Russia and, more importantly, is striving to provide Kyiv with urgent assistance to prevent Ukraine’s resistance on the front line from collapsing.
Although Burnham has stated that he supports the energy ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow announced by Trump, he has taken a more accommodating stance than Trump toward Ukraine’s retaliatory attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. For example, in a statement on the issue, Burnham said, “I discussed this matter with Zelensky: Ukraine is ready to do so if Russia halts its attacks.”[v] This rhetoric is politically quite close to Ukraine’s position. Trump, by contrast, has expressed his frustration[vi] with Kyiv’s war strategy by claiming that Zelensky does not want peace, openly adopting a confrontational tone toward Ukraine.
Zelensky, whose relationship with Trump has been marked by repeated ups and downs, needs greater European support in his foreign policy to overcome these difficulties in transatlantic relations. Indeed, from Kyiv’s perspective, this need has now become an imperative. Ukraine’s dependence on the United States to meet its urgent security needs leaves Kyiv largely constrained in its foreign policy options. For this reason, Zelensky is seeking to diversify military support by intensifying contacts with European countries, particularly London, Ukraine’s strongest supporter.
However, U.S. military and intelligence assistance remains particularly important for Ukraine. Even with strong political support from Europe, it seems unlikely that Ukraine could obtain from Brussels or London the same level of support that Washington provides on the battlefield. In other words, it would be difficult for London to serve as an alternative to Washington in Ukraine’s military strategy or to replace it. It should be recalled that the United Kingdom’s military and economic capabilities are not comparable to those of the United States. Nevertheless, politically, London wants the war in Ukraine to develop in accordance with its own strategic preferences. To this end, Burnham is pursuing a course different from Trump’s. London’s agenda also includes preparing new sanctions against Russia and encouraging allies to join restrictions on maritime services that facilitate Russian energy exports. The shared political and military strategy of London and Kyiv is to reduce Russia’s energy revenues and, over the long term, limit Moscow’s ability to finance its military expenditure. From this perspective, Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy facilities may also point to British support.
In conclusion, Zelensky’s visit to London represents a recalibration of the transatlantic alliance within Ukrainian foreign policy. The central question is to what extent London can fill the strategic vacuum created by Washington’s unpredictable policies and whether Europe can develop an independent geopolitical capacity in the process. In this respect, the war in Ukraine is becoming a new test of the Western alliance’s leadership structure.
[i] “Burnham to take Zelenskyy’s pleas for Patriot missiles to Trump – as it happened”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/aug/25/europe-ukraine-patriot-missiles-zelenskyy-trump-russia-drone-germany-latest-news-update, (Date Accessed: 14.10.2026).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “Zelenskiy visits Britain as Burnham pledges fresh support for Ukraine”, Internazionale, https://www.internazionale.it/ultime-notizie-reuters/2026/10/13/zelenskiy-visits-britain-as-burnham-pledges-fresh-support-for-ukraine, (Date Accessed: 14.10.2026).
[iv] “Zelenskiy visits Britain as Burnham pledges fresh support for Ukraine”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/zelenskiy-visits-britain-burnham-pledges-fresh-support-ukraine-2026-10-13/, (Date Accessed: 14.10.2026).
[v] “Andy Burnham offers ‘complete solidarity’ with Ukraine as he backs Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire”, GB News, https://www.gbnews.com/politics/andy-burnham-ukraine-backs-donald-trump-energy-ceasefire-volodymyr-zelensky, (Date Accessed: 14.10.2026).
[vi] “Trump says Ukraine should get a new leader as he spars with Zelensky over US-Russia diesel deal”, CNN, https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/09/politics/trump-putin-russian-diesel, (Date Accessed: 13.10.2026).
