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Ukrainian President hails UK's unwavering support on visit to Portsmouth Naval Base
27 July 2026
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today saw how the Royal Navy is training Ukrainian sailors to make the Black Sea safe.
A Royal Navy Guard of Honour on the jetty next to HMS Queen Elizabeth awaited the two leaders before they climbed aboard the aircraft carrier for their first meeting.
Mr Burnham and Mr Zelenskyy were hosted by First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins and the carrier’s Commanding Officer Captain Claire Thompson as they discussed ongoing Anglo-Ukraine support and cooperation.
Under the UK’s support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Operation Interflex, more than 200 sailors have been trained to operate five minehunters over the past three years, ships which have been operating out of Portsmouth.
Mr Zelenskyy praised the ongoing support for his nation from the UK, especially its armed forces and defence industries.
The Ukrainian president said that since Russia’s illegal attack on his country, London and Kyiv had built “the strongest relationship in the entire history of cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
“We value that we can always count on Britain's principled decisions, leadership, and support. Thank you, Britain!”
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, said: “I am delighted that President Zelenskyy had an opportunity to see first-hand the Royal Navy’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
“Through the Maritime Capability Coalition, which we lead with Norway, the UK is playing a vital role rallying support for the Ukrainian Navy, from mine countermeasure capabilities to training Ukrainian Marines through our regional training hub.
“Ukraine’s unwavering courage and determination is an inspiration to the Royal Navy. We stand with them as they defend their people, their waters and the rules-based order we all depend on.”
Working with the professional Ukrainian crews and battlestaff has been the highlight of the year so far, and has left a great impression on my team.
The visit coincided with the return of the five Ukrainian minehunters to Portsmouth after taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze just along the south coast.
Originally staged in the Black Sea by the US and Ukrainian Navies before Russia’s illegal invasion, the two-week-long exercise is currently hosted by the UK, concluding last week off the coast of Devon, Dorset and Hampshire.
Sea Breeze 2026 was the largest mine warfare workout hosted in the UK in nearly a decade involving 750 military personnel from 18 nations and ten ships (from Ukraine, UK, Poland, Lithuania and France).
The goal was to ensure the Ukrainian Navy’s sailors and minehunters were ready to operate side-by-side with NATO counterparts – a goal achieved as the ships cleared a mine-free route stretching more than 85 miles from the English Riviera to the Isle of Wight, locating 17 practice mines along the way, with dive teams and remote controlled vehicles employed and live charges used to destroy some of the devices found.
For the Royal Navy, the exercise proved a useful test of its specialist minehunting mothership, HMS Stirling Castle, which demonstrated its ability not just to be a hub for the latest remote/autonomous systems.
She worked extensively with the Ukrainian ships, culminating in the Chernihiv berthing alongside Stirling Castle in the Channel – known as ‘rafting up’ – enabling the supply of fuel, water and supplies.
Commander Phil Harper, HMS Stirling Castle’s Commanding Officer, said Sea Breeze had been an excellent workout for all participants, with the Ukrainians standing out.
“Working with the professional Ukrainian crews and battlestaff has been the highlight of the year so far, and has left a great impression on my team. Slava Ukraini!” he added.
Sea Breeze’s participants were also tested in wider aspects of war at sea: damage control and firefighting, gunnery, force protection and commanding a task group.