Andy Burnham accused Russia of making “outrageous threats” against the UK during his first overseas visit as prime minister, as he appeared in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day. Speaking in front of St Sophia cathedral, Burnham said Ukraine’s struggle echoed Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany, and he vowed continued UK support despite what he described as Russian intimidation. Kyiv was also braced for further Russian missile strikes on Monday, as Independence Day events took place with other European leaders in attendance alongside Burnham. Details of the commemorations were not published amid fears of an attack. Declassified Missile Components And New Data DealBurnham said Britain would give Ukraine newly declassified information covering British-manufactured components used in long-range cruise missiles, including Storm Shadow/Scalp systems. He said the information would help Kyiv improve its ability to make its own version, although he indicated this could take years. As part of the trip, Burnham was also due to sign a deal to share Ukrainian battlefield data with the UK’s Ministry of Defence and selected private companies, to support training of artificial intelligence models. Russia’s response was immediate. Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the exchange would “fuel the fire” and undermine any effort towards a peace arrangement. Coalition Call For Patriot MissilesWhile in Kyiv, Burnham joined a conference call with 34 leaders from the “coalition of the willing”, countries that have promised support if there is a truce with Russia. He urged other states to help Kyiv secure more US-made Patriot air-defence missiles, describing the group’s work as focused on drawing on national stocks and coordinating with allies outside the coalition to expand supply. Burnham also sought to deflect suggestions that he was raising tensions through his language. He said the declassification of the missile blueprints continued long-standing UK policy of backing Ukraine, and argued that Britain’s approach would not change with a new prime minister. He said standing firmly was in Britain’s interests. Russia’s Warnings, Diplomatic Fallout, And Wider ContextMoscow said it would identify and destroy missile production sites tied to the new capabilities. Peskov told reporters that Britain was supporting the “Kyiv regime” and accused London of adding to the pressure rather than helping the prospects for a settlement. The trip came against a wider backdrop of reported military and political strain in Ukraine. Kyiv has said Russia is building up ballistic missiles and is considering mobilising an additional 300,000 soldiers, with the weapons used to hit infrastructure and warehouses and to attack the capital. RELATED Burnham to Announce New UK Missile Support for Ukraine Burnham did not press countries including Spain and Greece to hand over their own Patriot stockpiles directly, saying the UK did not have systems that would allow it to transfer equipment in that way, while noting other nations face different threats. The visit also included additional European coordination: Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz were set to attend the coalition meeting by video link. Burnham travelled to Kyiv with António Costa, president of the European Council, and Luc Frieden, prime minister of Luxembourg. In the diplomatic sphere, Russia said it had withdrawn its ambassador to Britain, Andrey Kelin, with no replacement yet named, while the UK said its ambassador in Moscow would remain in post. Ukraine’s leadership also faces internal debate. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is dealing with what officials described as his biggest domestic challenge since the war began, after his former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for elections. Zelenskyy has said any poll risks splitting the country and would be “a tsunami for the state”. AQPO5w-jiz4ooXdihbMMpZ3zNvbDUKJ34j2TtiouaymJ0DB45XfKyipIdTJWa5gkdbeNgL9_otMt7BAhP4QSqc9jkj-9e4RpIkuil9DMww.mp4 Join the discussion? 25 August 2026
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