Britain pledges £17m to repair Chernobyl plant after Russian drone strike as Trump eases Russia sanctions

Andy Burnham has committed £17 million to restore the protective shelter and ventilation systems at the Chernobyl nuclear site, damaged by a Russian drone attack last year, amid warnings that corrosion could create serious long-term environmental and safety risks. The pledge came as Burnham hosted Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street, telling the Ukrainian president the UK was "behind you and that will not change". The UK funding forms part of a broader international effort coordinated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Zelensky received an unprecedented honour guard from the Irish Guards on his arrival at Downing Street on Wednesday.

The visit came after Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel last week and suggested Ukraine needs a new leader, straining US-Ukraine relations.

Zelensky told Piers Morgan that Elon Musk's Starlink being "blocked" meant "people will die", adding he felt betrayed by Trump.