Russia Claims Burnham Is Adding ‘Fuel To The Fire’ Of Ukraine War

Russia has hit out at Andy Burnham over his decision to share long-range missile blueprints with Ukraine.

The UK prime minister travelled to Ukraine on Monday – his first international trip since getting the keys to No.10 – and is expected to hand Kyiv key information on how to build the advanced rockets.

While marking 35 years since Ukraine first secured independence from the former USSR, Burnham will confirm that a key defence firm can release classified information on British components for the long-range missile SCALP.

It comes after the Kremlin already warned Britain of the “consequences” after it was confirmed that British drones had been used as part of Ukrainian attacks hitting targets deep within Russia.

Burnham brushed off the warnings, insisting that Britain is not a “fair-weather friend” to Ukraine.

Today, he said: “The Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.

“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine, and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.”

The Kremlin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was furious over the developments, telling Sky News: “[We view them] extremely negative.

“Britain is participating in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime.

“Britain is methodically and consistently adding fuel to the fire and methodically and consistently plotting to prevent a peaceful settlement process.”

“Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it,” Burnham later replied when speaking to reporters in Kyiv on Monday.

The Russian embassy in London also criticised reports from the weekend which pointed out that it had not yet appointed a Russian ambassador to the UK.

Andrei Kelin left the post abruptly on July 21 after seven years in the top diplomatic post.

Embassy staff told The Times that they were not sure when he would be replaced, and the Foreign Office is yet to receive a list of potential candidates for the top job.

But writing on Telegram on Monday, the embassy disputed the article.

It said: “The embassy considers it necessary to note that nothing in its comment provided to the newspaper implies that the Russian side intends to downgrade the level of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

“Such conclusions belong solely to the author of the publication and are based on suggestions by his unnamed sources.”

The embassy notably added: “As for the state of Russia-UK relations across all areas, they have deteriorated to an unprecedentedly low level entirely on London’s initiative.”

The UK’s relationship with Russia cooled considerably after Vladimir Putin launched his illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

But the Russian autocrat continues to wage war against his European neighbours in a brutal land grab.

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