Prime Minister Andy Burnham has responded to Moscow's assertion that Britain has escalated tensions in the Ukraine conflict, questioning: "Who started the fire?"
Britain's move to supply additional long-range missiles and drones to Ukraine has prompted threats of reprisal from the Kremlin. On Monday, Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that proposals to provide Ukraine with blueprints for long-range Scalp missiles would add "fuel to the fire" and damage any prospects of peace.
When questioned about his remarks during a visit to Kyiv, the Prime Minister told journalists: "Who started the fire? That's the question, isn't it?"
First overseas visit to Kyiv
Mr Burnham's trip to Ukraine, his first overseas visit as Prime Minister, falls on the 35th anniversary of the nation's independence from the Soviet Union. Prior to the visit, he revealed that the UK would supply Kyiv with blueprints for British components utilised in the French-manufactured Scalp missile as Paris considers establishing assembly lines for the weapon in Ukraine.
The Scalp weapon is a variant of the British Storm Shadow missile, which the UK has previously supplied to Ukraine, and can be deployed to strike additional targets within Russia itself.
In response to the announcement, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov stated his country had a right to view the "direct involvement of British missile forces" as "participation in the war, with all the ensuring consequences".
Support for Ukraine reaffirmed
In a speech delivered outside Kyiv's St Sophia cathedral on Monday, Mr Burnham pledged he would not be discouraged from providing aid to Ukraine. He said: "Despite Russia's outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for Ukraine."
During his address marking Ukraine's independence day, he commended the "sheer strength" of the Ukrainian people, describing their nation as "Europe's protector, not a drain on our security, but the front line in keeping Europe safe".
Mr Burnham went on to draw a parallel between Ukraine's resistance to Russia and Britain's struggle against Nazi Germany, stating: "My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st."
Coalition meeting and domestic turmoil
At Monday's ceremony in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented Mr Burnham with an award in recognition of the UK's backing. In his own independence day address, Mr Zelensky declared that Ukraine would "not submit" to Russia, adding: "Ukrainians will not be cobblestones under the feet of tsars and rulers."
Later in the day, Mr Burnham is expected to chair his inaugural meeting of the Anglo-French-led "coalition of the willing" and hold talks with Mr Zelensky, who was the first foreign leader to visit 10 Downing Street under his premiership. The coalition gathering is anticipated to centre largely on Ukraine's requirement for additional interceptor missiles as Russia maintains its relentless assault on the nation.
Ukraine has experienced a shortage of interceptors in recent months, with a significant portion of global supplies being redirected to the Middle East following the commencement of the Iran conflict.
Mr Burnham's journey arrives as Mr Zelensky confronts domestic political turmoil stemming from a dispute with his former defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who was dismissed last month after allegedly clashing with Ukraine's armed forces chief. Mr Fedorov, whose removal sparked weeks of widespread demonstrations, has demanded Mr Zelensky call elections, contending that democracy "should not be the hostage of Putin".
He has additionally pressed Mr Zelensky to answer questions regarding what he knew about purported corruption within his inner circle. Last week, Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities announced they had exposed a money-laundering scheme, prompting Mr Zelensky to dismiss one of his senior officials over their suspected involvement.
The president has refuted any involvement, stating to reporters over the weekend: "The heads of anti-corruption agencies have zero questions for me. They understand perfectly well that I am not involved in anything like that."
