President Zelenskyy’s visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth and the conclusion of Exercise Sea Breeze 2026 highlight the Royal Navy’s deepening operational partnership with Ukraine – and the growing demand for mine countermeasures, autonomous maritime systems and naval training capability it is generating. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Portsmouth Naval Base alongside Prime Minister Andy Burnham, boarding HMS Queen Elizabeth for talks with First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins on the UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine’s armed forces and defence industries. The visit coincided with the return of five Ukrainian minehunters to Portsmouth following Exercise Sea Breeze 2026 – the…
