Andy Burnham has promised Britain is “100 per cent behind” Ukraine as he visits Kyiv on his first foreign trip to mark the country’s independence day.
The prime minister is to chair his first meeting of the coalition of the willing as he arrives in Kyiv on Monday morning to signal Britain’s continued support for Ukraine.
It comes as relations between the Kremlin and Downing Street continue to suffer amid Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war on Ukraine and threats from Moscow.
But Mr Burnham is set to assure Ukrainians of the UK’s backing and reiterate that Russia’s threats only strengthen British resolve.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Mr Burnham added: “The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia’s illegal war.
In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.
“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”
Earlier this month, Russia’s embassy to the UK said reports that Ukrainian forces had used unmanned aircraft manufactured by two UK companies “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis”.
It accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy” and warned that the deeper its involvement becomes, “the higher the price it will pay”.
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” it said.
As well as chairing a meeting of the coalition of the willing, Mr Burnham will take part in Independence Day events and accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support.
The government has agreed to allow defence firm MBDA to 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, and Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines for Scalp missiles in Ukraine.
His visit marks his intention to continue Britain’s long-standing support for Ukraine, with every prime minister except Liz Truss having visited the country since the war with Russia broke out.
Sir Keir Starmer, who set up the coalition of the willing, visited Ukraine on his final foreign visit as prime minister, where he said the UK’s “cast-iron” support of Ukraine will “always endure”.
Meanwhile, relations between Moscow and Downing Street remain sour, with Mr Burnham having hit back at the Kremlin’s threats.
Asked what his message to Putin was after Russia accused the UK of escalating the war, Mr Burnham said: “This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.
“We are 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. We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
The Kremlin is also yet to put forward a replacement candidate for its ambassador to the UK after Andrei Kelin left his post in London in recent weeks.
The charge d’affaires has taken the lead, an embassy spokesman told The Times, raising questions about whether Russia is seeking to downgrade its diplomatic relations with the UK.
