Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv, where he will announce plans to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missiles.
The visit will include his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, established by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
Burnham is also expected to accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support for Ukraine and take part in events marking the country’s Independence Day.
Scalp missile technology to be shared
In a significant move for Ukraine’s war effort, Burnham will announce that his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information on UK components used in the long-range Scalp missile.
Scalp is the French equivalent of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile.
Burnham’s visit comes as Russian strikes on Ukraine have intensified in recent weeks, including an attack on a shopping centre on Friday that killed at least 16 people.
Ahead of his visit, Burnham said that on Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, Ukrainians should have no doubt that the UK stands behind them “today and for as long as it takes”.
He said he was proud of Britain’s contribution to Ukraine and wanted Ukrainians to hear directly from him that British support would not waver.
“Ukraine’s security is our security,” he said.
Burnham added that the friendship between Ukraine and the UK would “long outlast Russia’s illegal war”, saying Russia should have no doubt about Britain’s resolve.
“We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace,” he said.
Russia warns of escalation
The visit comes after Moscow warned of “consequences” over Ukraine’s use of British drones in its recent escalation of strikes against Russian infrastructure.
Kyiv has increased its long-range attacks on Moscow and other Russian regions, targeting oil refineries and warehouses belonging to major online retailers.
The Scalp missile weighs 1,300kg and is 5.1 metres long. It can strike targets around 150 miles inside Russia, although Ukraine’s deep-strike drones have a greater range.
The missile is designed to hit pre-planned, stationary targets and can operate day and night in all weather conditions. It uses advanced navigation systems.
MBDA says the missile is in service with the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force and the Italian Air Force, and has been used in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
Ukraine seeks more Patriot missiles
Ukraine is also seeking additional Patriot interceptor missiles, which are used to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Kyiv had requested 360 Patriot missiles and was working with other countries on additional options.
Ukraine has relied on US supplies of Patriot systems, but its stocks have come under pressure amid the war in Iran, leaving the country more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
Unlike Patriot systems, Scalp missiles are not designed to intercept incoming attacks.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard told BBC Breakfast that Britain was sharing the blueprints so Ukraine could defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
He said Russian attacks were targeting not only the front lines but also shopping centres and homes.
Pollard added that Ukraine needed a range of weapons, with the UK also providing other air defence systems to counter Russian cruise missiles and measures to combat drones.
Deadly attacks continue
The Russian embassy in the UK accused Britain of deliberately escalating the Ukraine conflict, warning that deeper involvement would come at a higher price.
Burnham rejected the criticism, saying Britain was “not fair-weather friends” and would support Ukraine in its hour of need.
The visit comes as Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, has left his post in London. The Kremlin has not yet appointed a replacement, although Russia’s embassy said the move did not indicate an intention to downgrade diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, deadly exchanges between Russia and Ukraine continued overnight.
Two children were killed and seven people injured after debris from a Ukrainian drone struck a private children’s centre in Russia, according to local authorities.
A warehouse belonging to online retailer Ozon was also set on fire. It was the third consecutive night that Ozon warehouses had been targeted.
Three people were also killed in a Russian attack on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Also read: Turkey’s Defence Ministry maps military cemeteries: References to Cyprus and Greece
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