The United Kingdom must adopt a more assertive stance toward rebuilding ties with the European Union, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told European Council President António Costa during a meeting in Kyiv on Sunday.
Burnham, who co-chaired a session of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in Ukraine, emphasized the need for London to leverage existing defense and security partnerships with EU allies as a basis for expanding collaboration across economic, trade and regulatory spheres. A Downing Street spokesperson quoted the prime minister as stating that the UK ‘needs to be bolder in terms of moving closer to the bloc.’
The call comes as the UK prepares for an upcoming summit with EU leaders, seen as an opportunity to recalibrate relations strained since Brexit. Burnham’s remarks follow a cabinet briefing on Monday outlining the government’s stance ahead of the talks. The prime minister’s visit to Kyiv marked his first since assuming office, underscoring the UK’s continued engagement in European security initiatives despite its withdrawal from the EU’s institutional frameworks.
