UK PM Burnham urges closer EU ties, calling for a bolder reset
Britain should be “bolder” in repairing ties with the European Union, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said during a train ride to Kyiv with European Council
Britain should be “bolder” in repairing ties with the European Union, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said during a train ride to Kyiv with European Council President António Costa on Sunday evening. The pair were travelling to Ukraine’s capital for events marking Independence Day on Monday.
Burnham told Costa the UK needed to move closer to the bloc, according to a Downing Street spokeswoman. He said the effort should build on the defence and security cooperation already established with European allies. That work, he added, could be widened across the rest of the relationship.
Security first, then wider cooperation
The comments fit a broader push from London to smooth relations with Brussels after years of tension following the 2016 Brexit vote. The latest exchange suggests Burnham wants the reset to stretch beyond security matters, reaching into education and culture as well.
That matters. A warmer relationship could shape how Britain and the EU handle issues that touch daily life, from universities to cross-border coordination. But the details remain open, and no new treaty or formal concession was announced on the journey to Kyiv.
The Downing Street spokeswoman said Burnham and Costa agreed the UK-EU summit planned for later this year would provide a platform to keep that work moving. The summit now looks like the next real test of how far both sides want to go.
Kyiv visit adds political weight
Burnham and Costa reached Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, putting their conversation about Europe in the shadow of the war and the wider security landscape. The setting sharpened the message: Europe’s defence ties are already tight, and London wants them to anchor a broader political thaw.
Burnham has also previously said he would like Britain to rejoin the EU, according to reporting cited by local outlets. For now, though, the focus is on rebuilding trust step by step. Quietly, but deliberately.
What comes next is the summit later this year, where Burnham’s call for a bolder approach will be measured against what both sides are actually prepared to offer.
