Russia accuses UK of ‘collaborating’ in Ukraine struggle after Andy Burnham shares missile blueprints
The Kremlin has lashed out at Britain, accusing the UK of pouring fuel on the fire by supplying blueprints for components to make long-range Scalp missiles as Andy Burnham visits Kyiv
The Kremlin has reacted angrily to Britain supplying missile blueprints(Image: MIKHAIL METZEL, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia has ramped up its threat to the UK after Andy Burnham announced the government will share secret missile technology with Ukraine.
Moscow has accused Britain of “participating in this war” as the Prime Minister makes his first foreign visit to Kyiv. Warmonger Vladimir Putin’s government accused the UK of “pouring fuel on the fire” in a fierce response.
The UK will help Ukraine produce long-range Scalp missiles by sharing blueprints for its British components with Kyiv. Mr Burnham warned Russia that it should be in no doubt about Britain’s resolve.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded: “Britain is participating in this war. It is participating in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime.
“Britain methodically and regularly pours fuel on the fire and methodically and regularly plots to prevent any progress in the peace process.
“Our armed forces are conducting the relevant work, obtaining the relevant information in order to identify the production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment, and are taking measures to destroy these sites.”
The weapons the UK are supplying information about are the French-produced versions of the UK’s Storm Shadow, which Ukraine has been using to hit targets in Russia, and Kyiv and Paris are looking to set up local assembly lines to produce them in the country.
Mr Burnham said: “Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”
On Ukrainian Independence Day, the PM told the Ukrainian people “the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes” and that Russia’s threats only strengthen the UK’s resolve. And he warned Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin that our nation “will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace”.
The Government has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow.
Both missiles use shared French and British technology. Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines for Scalp missiles in Ukraine.
The move follows the UK being the first to gift long-range strike weapons for defensive purposes to Ukraine in 2023 and will allow the French and Ukrainians to move forward with the Ukrainian assembly of the missile. It also complements the major UK effort to rapidly develop low-cost advanced long-range strike weapons for Ukraine through Project Brakestop.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has committed a range of military, economic, and diplomatic support, underpinned by the UK and Ukraine’s 100 Year Partnership. This includes £16billion in military assistance and £5.6bn in non-military support.
Moscow recently threatened “consequences” over the reported use of British drones by Ukraine in its recent ramping up of deep strikes into Russia’s mainland.
Last week, Russia accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict in relation to the UK-made drones and said the deeper the country’s involvement became, “the higher the price it will pay”.
