Russia Issues Warning To UK As Burnham Unveils New Ukraine Missile Plan

The Kremlin has accused the UK of 'participating in this war' and adding 'fuel to the fire' after Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an agreement allowing classified information on British components of the SCALP missile to be shared with Ukraine.

The arrangement will allow defence company MBDA to release the information as France and Ukraine work towards establishing local assembly lines for the long-range missile. The announcement was made during Burnham's first overseas visit as prime minister, on Ukraine's 35th Independence Day.

Burnham said Russian threats would not deter Britain from supporting Ukraine, arguing that Moscow's response showed British assistance was having an impact. He also said the UK would continue its support for Ukraine 'as long as it takes'.

UK Backs Local Missile Production

SCALP is the French-produced version of the missile known in Britain as Storm Shadow, with the two weapons using shared French and British technology. The UK Government said the agreement would allow France and Ukraine to move forward with assembling the missile in Ukraine.

The move follows Britain's decision to become the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons in 2023. The government said the new arrangement would support Ukraine's ability to develop its own weapons production capacity while continuing to receive military assistance from allies.

The agreement also complements Project Brakestop, a British initiative aimed at rapidly developing lower-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine.

The decision to share information on British missile components was described by a former MI6 chief as a 'very important signal' of Britain's commitment to Ukraine. However, the practical impact of local production will depend on how quickly assembly facilities can be established.

Russia Condemns British Support

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticised the agreement, accusing Britain of becoming involved in the conflict and saying the sharing of missile information would add to tensions.

The criticism came as Burnham told reporters in Kyiv that Russia's threats would not change Britain's position. He said Russia had started the war and could end it at any time.

At the 'Coalition of the Willing' meeting in Kyiv, Burnham called on allies to maintain pressure on Russia and support efforts towards a full and unconditional ceasefire. He also backed continued coordinated action against Russia's shadow fleet.

French President Emmanuel Macron similarly called for stronger measures against the shadow fleet while stressing the need to avoid escalation.

Ukraine Seeks More Air Defence

The missile agreement was announced as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told allies that his country needed at least 300 Patriot interceptor missiles ahead of winter, warning that its air defences were under pressure.

Burnham said Britain was backing a project to develop a lower-cost alternative as part of efforts to strengthen Ukraine's air defences.

The prime minister also co-chaired his first meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing' alongside Zelenskyy and other international leaders. The discussions focused on continued military support, Ukraine's long-term security and measures to increase pressure on Russia.

The UK Government said Britain has committed £25 billion in funding to Ukraine, including £16 billion in military assistance and £5.6 billion in non-military support.

The agreement marks a move towards helping Ukraine develop domestic capacity to assemble long-range missiles, alongside Britain's continued supply of military assistance. It also comes as Russia criticises London's role in supporting Kyiv and warns that the move could increase tensions.