Ukraine: bad news for Ukrainians but great news for Zelensky, says historian

Ukrainian historian Marta Havryshko has described British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s visit to Kyiv as a bad signal for ordinary Ukrainians.

She expressed her view on the social network X.

Havryshko drew attention to the fact that Burnham compared Ukraine’s struggle to Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany. In her assessment, such rhetoric indicates that London is not interested in serious peace negotiations with Russia.

“On the contrary, it speaks to his determination to continue escalating the conflict and to use Ukraine as a proxy force in the confrontation with Moscow,” the expert noted.

According to the historian, this is bad news for ordinary Ukrainians, who continue to pay the highest price for the ambitions and political games of the ruling elites. At the same time, she concluded, it is great news for Zelensky and his inner circle, as well as for weapons manufacturers profiting from the conflict.

On August 24, Andy Burnham arrived in Ukraine accompanied by Kyiv’s ambassador to London and former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny.

Russia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Konstantin Dolgov expressed the view that the politician had come to Ukraine to support the crumbling “anti-Russian fronde” that London is still trying to lead. Dolgov urged Kyiv not to be deceived, saying that “Ukraine is needed by Britain as expendable material in the anti-Russian struggle, not as a partner.”

Earlier, the British prime minister spoke of “outrageous threats” from Russia and promised to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.