Russia accuses Burnham of fuelling Ukraine war fires

The Kremlin has accused Britain of siding with Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, claiming that the latest missile announcement will exacerbate tensions. As Prime Minister Andy Burnham was on a visit to Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of taking every possible step to impede any progress towards a peace deal.

He claimed that Britain was actively involved in the war on the side of the Ukrainian regime and was methodically fueling the conflict, devising schemes to prevent any advancement in the peaceful settlement process. During Burnham's first official visit as UK Prime Minister, he expressed his full backing for Ukraine to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and condemned Moscow's outrageous threats.

Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day and is reportedly providing Ukraine with blueprints to manufacture its own long-range missiles. Moscow had previously warned London about potential consequences for supplying drones to Kyiv, alleging that Britain was deepening its involvement in the war following reports of British-made drones being used for long-range strikes against Russia for the first time.

Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore stated that Russia has a long history of attacks on the UK dating back almost a decade, emphasizing that the UK is merely supporting Ukraine's right to defend itself against aggression. Ambassador Andrey Kelin withdrew from London, citing his seven years of combative presence in the UK capital as evidence of Russia's ongoing implication in the conflict.

Burnham countered Russia's line during his first foreign policy speech, assuring the public that despite Russia's threats, the UK would continue its support for Ukraine, describing it as Europe's protector rather than a security drain. Burnham is set to co-chair a meeting with Zelenskyy, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and French President Emmanuel Macron via video link.