Russia issued a sharp warning today after Britain approved the transfer of sensitive missile technology to Ukraine.
Moscow accused the UK of “participating in this war” as Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv for his first overseas visit.
The Prime Minister said European defence manufacturer MBDA had been authorised to share details of UK-made components used in the long-range Scalp missile, France’s version of the Storm Shadow weapon system.
He made clear that Britain would not ease its backing for Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin’s aggression, while condemning Russia’s warnings to the UK as “outrageous”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, escalated the rhetoric once again, declaring: “Britain is participating in this war. It is participating in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime.
“Britain methodically and regularly pours fuel on the fire and methodically and regularly plots to prevent any progress in the peace process.”
Peskov added that Russia’s armed forces were focused on locating “the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment” with the aim of destroying them.
The latest confrontation comes after reports over the weekend that Russia’s ambassador had been withdrawn from London, underscoring the deepening collapse in UK-Russia relations.
The UK’s decision means the ‘deep precision’ Scalp – which is built using both British and French technology – could now be produced locally in Ukraine.
The weapons are critical for long-range strikes reaching targets deep inside Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Andy Burnham today as the PM made his first visit to Kyiv
Mr Burnham laid a wreath and flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers at the National Military Cemetery
Giving a speech in front of St Sophia cathedral in Kyiv to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, Mr Burnham compared the country’s resistance to the fight against Nazi Germany.
‘My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st,’ he said.
‘Despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for Ukraine.’
In his first major speech on the international stage, Mr Burnham praised the ‘sheer strength’ of the Ukrainian people as ‘truly awesome’, and said that ‘this is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia, the moment to squeeze their ability to fund this illegal war’.
‘Ukraine has been Europe’s protector, not a drain on our security but the front line in keeping Europe safe,’ he added.
‘The Ukrainian people deserve not just our continued support, but our gratitude and respect,’ he said, thanking Ukrainians for ‘the incredible stand’ they have taken.
Ukraine has marked its Independence Day with huge drone attacks on three major Russian online shopping hubs.
In a defiant speech marking Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day in front of Saint Sophia, Mr Zelensky said: ‘Ukrainians will not be cobblestones under the feet of tsars and rulers. Ukrainians will not submit.’
Mr Zelensky gave awards to members of the military and posthumous acknowledgements to family members of soldiers killed in the war sparked by Russia’s invasion.
He also gave honours to world leaders present, including one to Mr Burnham titled Honorary Distinction to the British People, Gratitude of the Ukrainian People.
Mr Burnham, who travelled to Ukraine overnight by train, laid a wreath and flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers at the National Military Cemetery, as part of events marking the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
During the ceremony, he spoke to Finnish president Alexander Stubb, who told the Prime Minister ‘we are in a war period’ and warned of Ukraine’s difficulties repelling Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Later today Mr Burnham will chair his first meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’, and accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support.
It follows the Kremlin warning of ‘consequences’ over UK drones being used by Ukraine to strike far into Russia.
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Moscow said the deeper Britain became involved, ‘the higher price it will pay’.
Mr Burnham said: ‘On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, its people should be in no doubt: The UK is behind you.
‘In the fight and the rebuilding to come, we stand with Ukraine. Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down till there is a lasting peace.’
But Russia said relations with Britain are at ‘an unprecedentedly low level’ as it ordered its ambassador Andrey Kelin back to Moscow after seven years in post.
Mr Kelin has accused the UK of choosing ‘a path of confrontation’ with Russia.
Mr Burnham said: ‘Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.’
Ukrainian drones appeared to hit another Russian online retailer today, following strikes over three nights in a row last week.
Kyiv has been waging a campaign against Wildberries – dubbed ‘Russia’s Amazon’ – and Ozon, claiming they have been supplying components to the military.
Ozon, Russia’s second largest online retailer, said ‘a fire broke out’ at a logistics centre in Makhachkala, southern Russia, following a drone attack at around 5am.
Mr Burnham’s visit comes as Mr Zelensky faces domestic political strife caused by a rift with his former defence minister.
Mykhailo Fedorov was sacked last month after reportedly falling out with the head of Ukraine’s armed forces.
His ousting triggered weeks of mass protests, and he has called for Mr Zelensky to hold elections, arguing democracy ‘should not be the hostage of Putin’.
The PM is in the Ukraine capital for the country’s independence day after travelling overnight by train
During the ceremony, he spoke to Finnish president Alexander Stubb (second from left)
Ukrainian drones strike a huge logistics hub for online retailer Ozon near Makhachkala this morning
He has also called for Mr Zelensky to face questions over what he knew about alleged corruption in his inner circle.
Last week, Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities said they had uncovered a money-laundering plot, leading Mr Zelensky to sack one of his senior officials over their alleged involvement.
The president has denied any involvement, telling reporters over the weekend: ‘The heads of anti-corruption agencies have zero questions for me.
‘They understand perfectly well that I am not involved in anything like that.’
Touring broadcast studios for the Government this morning, defence minister Luke Pollard told Times Radio: ‘We’ve already seen Russian activities against the United Kingdom, we’ve seen them loitering over our critical undersea cables, we’ve seen cyber attacks on our systems, we’ve also seen them prosecute an illegal war against one of our close friends.
‘So am I surprised that Russia doesn’t like people supporting Ukraine? No, I’m not. Will that stop us from supporting our friends in Ukraine? No, it won’t either.’
Mr Pollard said when to have an election was ‘an internal matter for the people of Ukraine, the government of Ukraine’.
‘If I look at the parallel United Kingdom during the Second World War, while there was war waging in Europe, we didn’t have elections,’ he said.
He added: ‘Having spoken to both President Zelensky and the former defence minister Fedorov in the past, I know that both of them are committed to the defence of their nation and seeing through their nation to get to a peaceful conclusion to the conflict.’
