UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed that Britain will continue supporting Ukraine despite what he described as “outrageous threats” from Russia.
Burnham made the statement during his first official visit to Ukraine as prime minister, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and chaired a meeting of the 34-nation Coalition of the Willing in Kyiv.
The visit comes amid rising tensions between Britain and Russia over London’s military support for Ukraine.
UK to share missile technology with Ukraine
The British government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information about British-made components used in the Scalp cruise missile, the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow.
The move could help Ukraine and France establish missile assembly lines in Ukraine, giving Kyiv greater capacity to produce long-range weapons domestically.
Russia has strongly opposed the decision.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of “adding fuel to the fire” and said Russia was already collecting information about possible missile production sites.
Responding to the Russian warning, Burnham said:
“Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it?”
Ukraine demands stronger air defence
At the Coalition of the Willing meeting, strengthening Ukraine’s air defences was identified as an urgent priority.
President Zelensky has continued to call for more Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine uses to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
The European Union has also released €6.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, including funding aimed at strengthening its air-defence capabilities.
Burnham: Britain will not abandon Ukraine
Burnham said the UK would continue working with its allies to put economic pressure on Russia and help Ukraine defend itself.
He also praised the Ukrainian people, saying Ukraine had become a key part of Europe’s security.
During his visit, Burnham laid flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers and accepted an award from Zelensky recognising Britain’s support for Ukraine.
Speaking at Ukraine’s independence celebrations, he said:
“The UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.”
He added that Britain would not back down until a “just and lasting peace” was achieved.
New UK-Ukraine military technology partnership
Britain and Ukraine have also agreed to deepen cooperation in military technology.
British experts will gain access to data from Ukraine’s Avengers AI Labs, where battlefield information collected through sensors and cameras is being used to develop artificial intelligence systems for defence and national security.
Meanwhile, fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues.
Russian authorities reported that two children were killed and seven others injured after Ukrainian drone debris struck a private children’s centre in Russia.
Ukraine, meanwhile, reported three deaths following a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
With Britain increasing its military and technological support for Kyiv and Russia warning of consequences, tensions between Moscow and London appear set to intensify.
