Russia delivered a stark threat over Britain’s decision to supply Ukraine with secret missile technology today.
Moscow accused the UK of ‘participating in this war’ as Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv for his first foreign visit.
The Prime Minister announced that European defence firm MBDA has been given permission to share information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French version of the Storm Shadow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the move, saying: ‘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.’
He added that the Russian armed forces were intent on identifying ‘the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment’ in order to destroy them.
But Mr Burnham insisted there would be no let-up in the UK’s support for Ukraine against Vladimir Putin‘s aggression, branding Russia’s threats to the UK ‘outrageous’.
‘Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it,’ he said.
Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Andy Burnham today as the PM made his first visit to Kyiv
Zelenskyy welcomed the Prime Minister to Horodetskyi House with a warm hand shake
Mr Burnham’s visit to Ukraine marks the country’s independence day – and signal’s Britain’s continued support for Zelensky’s administration
Britain will keep providing defence aid to Ukraine despite Russia’s threats. Pictured: Mr Burnham and Mr Zelensky
Mr Burnham and Mr Zelensky pictured after signing a partnership deal on Artificial Intelligence
The two leaders shared a hearty handshake and smile following the signing of the AI agreement
It emerged over the weekend that the Russian ambassador has been withdrawn from London as relations deteriorate even further.
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.
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 Burnham laid a wreath and flowers at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers at the National Military Cemetery
Mr Burnham paid a visit to the Wall of Remembrance at Mykhailivska Square
The Prime Minister also observed destroyed Russian vehicles displayed at Mykhailivska Square as part of his visit
A shared prayer was said at St. Sophia’s Cathedral
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.
The Prime Minister also paid his respects at the Wall of Remembrance in Mykhailivska Square (St Michael’s Square) in the old part of Kyiv, laying a bouquet of red roses.
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.
Mr Burnham chair his first meeting of the ‘coalition of the willing’ this afternoon.
In an apparent message to Donald Trump, he told the group of allies that Ukraine needed more Patriot interceptor missiles immediately to ‘help to protect its people’.
He also called on the US Congress to ‘ratchet up’ economic pressure on Russia.
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
Mr Burnham said Russia’s economy was struggling with a record budget deficit and declining oil revenues as he backed a sanctions bill proposed by the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham.
The Kremlin has warned of ‘consequences’ over UK drones being used by Ukraine to strike far into Russia.
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.’
Mr Burnham is pictured visiting Lukanivska, a station on Kyiv Metro’s Syretsko–Pecherska line
The Prime Minister posed for a selfie with a Kyiv resident, Natalia Bezrodeko
Mr Burham travelled between Lukanivska and Zoloti Vorota metro stations
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’.
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.’
