'Quite clear what I need to do' — UK PM Burnham, European leaders plan to lobby Trump on Patriot missiles for Ukraine

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and other European leaders plan to lobby U.S. President Donald Trump next month to provide Ukraine access to U.S. stockpiles of Patriot missiles, Burnham said on Aug. 24.

Russia has been exploiting Ukraine's shortage of air defense capabilities against Russian ballistic missiles by hammering Ukrainian cities with intense, frequent bombardments. Concerns have continued to mount about Kyiv's stockpile of interceptor missiles ahead of yet another anticipated harsh winter.

"I’m looking forward to going to New York in September," Burnham told Bloomberg, referring to his upcoming visit for the UN General Assembly. "I’ve not fully confirmed the details yet but it’s likely I will go, particularly after today’s discussion."

"Leaving today, I’m quite clear what I need to do in the next few weeks," Burnham said referring to the planned lobbying efforts, adding that he believed Ukraine's shortage of air defense missiles was "fixable."

Burnham made the comments during his first visit to Kyiv on Aug. 24 to mark Ukraine's Independence Day. European Council President Antonio Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Estonian President Alar Karis and other Nordic and Baltic leaders also visited the Ukrainian capital.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly pushed Ukraine's partners to provide licenses allowing Western weapons to be manufactured in Ukraine, including U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems.

Ukraine has not yet received permission to manufacture Patriot systems domestically, though Zelensky said in June that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration planned to raise the possibility of licensing production with American defense companies.

While it was not immediately clear as to which country's leaders would participate in the lobbying efforts, Burnham said that European leaders are considering holding a meeting of the "Coalition of the Willing" to coincide with the UN General Assembly.

"That would seem to be the most likely pace of direction,” Burnham told Bloomberg.

"There are other players who could help in the mix who we have influence with," he said, adding that a likely solution would likely take "a lot of negotiation."

Earlier in the day, Burnham announced Britain's decision to share classified technical information on Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles with Ukraine in a move that could help Kyiv expand domestic production of the weapons.

Ukrainian officials have expressed their hopes that domestically-produced Fire Point ballistic missiles, including an anti-ballistic missile akin to the U.S. Patriot system, could be combat-ready in the space of 2-3 months.