British Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday for Ukraine’s Independence Day, accompanied by several European leaders, marking his first overseas visit since assuming office.
The visit comes as Russia has intensified its verbal attacks on Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine, warning of repercussions if the aid persists.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov issued a statement on Monday after Burnham’s arrival, accusing Britain of escalating tensions.
“Britain is taking part in the war—on the side of the Kyiv regime,” Peskov told Russian reporters in a televised briefing on Monday. “Britain has been determined to pour oil on the fire and obstruct any peace process.”
Together with other European nations, Britain has long advocated for a cease‑fire since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. However, those efforts have stalled as the United States assumed leadership of the peace process over the past year.
Burnham responded firmly to the aggressive Russian remarks on Monday, with British officials announcing he would hand President Volodymyr Zelensky technical plans for a long‑range missile.
“Despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for you,” Burnham said in a speech from Sofiivska Square in Kyiv. “This is the moment to keep up the pressure on Russia, to stop their ability to fund this illegal war.”
The missile, jointly developed with France, is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK. Providing the classified plans to Kyiv would enable Ukraine and France to manufacture the French variant, SCALP, on assembly lines within Ukraine, officials said.
Burnham arrived in Kyiv by train Monday morning after an overnight journey, met with President Zelensky, and will chair an in‑person and virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” a group of leaders committed to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, said during her travel to the coalition meeting on Sunday night that the mood in Ukraine has darkened this summer amid Russia’s targeted attacks on civilians.
She added that the conflict has entered a new phase where both sides aim to inflict serious economic damage. Russia is blocking Ukraine’s grain exports through the Black Sea, while Ukraine is targeting Russian economic entities such as Wildberries, a firm comparable to Amazon.
Jeanna Smialek contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine.
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