Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv – and will hand over blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles.
The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, set up by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
He is also set to accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support for Ukraine and to take part in independence day events.
Crucially for the war effort, he will announce his government has agreed to allow defence company MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile – the French equivalent of the UK’s Storm Shadow.
Burnham will be reaffirming the UK’s backing for Kyiv in the wake of escalating Russian strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks – including one on a shopping centre on Friday that killed at least 16 people.
Ahead of his visit on Monday, Burnham said: “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.
“I am proud of the contribution our country has made to Ukraine and I want the Ukrainian people to hear it directly from me that our support will not waver. After all, Ukraine’s security is our security.”
He said the friendship Ukraine shared with the UK would “long outlast Russia’s illegal war”, adding: “Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”
It comes after Moscow warned of “consequences” over the use of British drones by Ukraine in its recent ramping up of strikes on Russian infrastructure.
Kyiv has stepped up long-range attacks on Moscow and other Russian regions, targeting oil refineries and warehouses of the country’s largest online retailer, Wildberries.
The long-range Scalp missile weighs 1,300kg and is 16.7ft (5.10m) in length. It is capable of hitting targets around 150 miles into Russia – not as far as Ukraine’s deep strike drone capability but it is a significant step in showing the willingness of international partners to share weapons technology.
The maker describes them as designed to hit pre-planned, stationary targets. It can be used day and night in all weather, and has advanced navigation systems.
MBDA adds that it is in service with the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, Italian Air Force and has been used in Iraq, Syria and Libya.
Ukraine hopes it can also be given more Patriot interceptor missiles, with Zelensky again asking for more of the weapon, which are used to combat Russia’s ballistic missiles.
On Sunday, he said they have requested 360 of the missiles, but are “working with countries on additional options”.
Ukraine has been relying on American supplies of the Patriots, but its stockpiles are running low due to the war in Iran, leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks.
The Russian embassy in the UK has accused Britain of “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis”, saying “the deeper its involvement in the conflict… the higher the price it will pay”.
In response, Burnham said last week: “We are not fair-weather friends, we will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need and that won’t change.”
Asked on Tuesday about the Russian threat, Burnham maintained the UK was “providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict, by previous prime ministers – it remains the case with me”.
The visit comes as Russia confirmed its ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, had left his post in London in recent weeks.
