Russia accuses Burnham of fuelling Ukraine war fires

The Kremlin has accused Britain of supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, stating that recent missile announcements would exacerbate tensions. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was in Ukraine for his first official visit as UK leader, where he vowed Britain's full backing for Kyiv and denounced Moscow's "outrageous threats." Burnham arrived in Ukraine on Independence Day, where he reportedly provided blueprints for Ukraine to manufacture its own long-range missiles.

Russia warned London of unspecified consequences for supplying drones to Ukraine, alleging that British-made drones had carried out the first long-range strikes against Russian soil. Sir Richard Moore, a former MI6 chief, stated that Russia has a history of attacking the UK dating back nearly a decade. Russia's long-standing ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, withdrew from the country last summer, citing Russia's implications for supporting Ukraine.

Burnham countered Russia's stance, emphasizing the UK's commitment to Ukraine's right to defend itself against aggression. The UK plans to permit MBDA to share classified information on long-range Scalp missile components, enabling France and Ukraine to advance the assembly of these weapons. Burnham is set to co-chair a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, via video conference.