British Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street on Wednesday, as the Ukrainian leader sought to strengthen ties with European allies five years into Russia's war on Ukraine.

Burnham told Zelensky that Britain "would forever stand by you" and announced he was accelerating the delivery of air defences to Ukraine.

The two leaders met at No 10 Downing Street, where Zelensky was received with a military ceremonial guard — believed to be the first time such an honour has been extended to a foreign leader at that location.

Ahead of the meeting, Burnham told Members of Parliament that he would seek to "repair bridges" between Ukraine and the United States, and pledged that Ukraine would not leave the talks "empty-handed".