Burnham: UK will help Ukraine produce long‑range missiles

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced in Kyiv that the United Kingdom is prepared to share classified technical information with Ukraine to enable Kyiv to produce its own version of the long‑range cruise missile known as "SCALP." Burnham made the announcement while visiting the city to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

Reaction from Moscow

Burnham addressed reporters in Kyiv with a forceful statement about continued Western support for Ukraine: "Despite the outrageous threats from Russia against my country, we will continue to support Ukraine. Four-and-a-half years of full-scale Russian invasion aim to destroy the independence we have come to celebrate today. But today and every day, you prove that they have not succeeded. Now is the time to increase pressure on Russia, the time to drain their ability to fund this illegal war," he said.

The announcement that London will hand over classified material on long‑range missile production drew an immediate rebuke from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the move as "adding oil to the fire" and accused Britain of doing everything it can to block any progress toward a possible peace agreement, saying Moscow regularly devises schemes to prevent even the smallest steps forward in the process.

Peskov also said the Russian military is systematically gathering information to identify the locations of all missile production sites and that it will subsequently destroy them.

Last week, Moscow warned London of unspecified "consequences" over British supplies of drones to Kyiv, accusing the United Kingdom of deepening its involvement in the war after reports that British-made unmanned aerial vehicles were used for long‑range attacks against Russia.

The British announcement is likely to intensify diplomatic tensions between London and Moscow as Kyiv seeks to broaden its domestic production capabilities for advanced weaponry.

Photo: press material from the event