Asked \u200cabout UK prime minister Andy Burnham\u2019s visit to Kyiv on Monday and the new \u200cBritish missile support, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov \u200bsaid Britain was a participant in the war on Ukraine\u2019s \u2060side and accused London \u200bof \u200bdoing everything \u200bit could to prevent \u200bany \u200cprogress towards \u200ban \u200beventual peace deal.<\/p>\n
(Goes without saying that this isn\u2019t really true.)<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the full quote from Kremlin\u2019s Peskov, via AFP:<\/p>\n \u201cBritain is methodically and regularly throwing oil on the fire and methodically and regularly plotting schemes to prevent even the slightest progress in the peace process.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that Russia would target and \u201cdestroy\u201d facilities producing the missile in Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kremlin says UK’s move to help Ukraine would ‘add fuel to fire’, blames London for preventing peace talks<\/p>\n The Kremlin responded to Burnham\u2019s overnight comments, saying his plans to help Ukraine<\/a> make its own long-range cruise missiles would \u201cadd fuel to the fire\u201d in bilateral British-Russian relations.<\/p>\n Asked \u200cabout UK prime minister Andy Burnham\u2019s visit to Kyiv on Monday and the new \u200cBritish missile support, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov \u200bsaid Britain was a participant in the war on Ukraine\u2019s \u2060side and accused London \u200bof \u200bdoing everything \u200bit could to prevent \u200bany \u200cprogress towards \u200ban \u200beventual peace deal.<\/p>\n (Goes without saying that this isn\u2019t really true.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kiran Stacey in London and Dan Sabbagh in Dnipro<\/p>\n The UK prime minister will use the trip to announce that the UK government will allow the European defence company MBDA to declassify information about UK-made components of the Anglo-French Storm Shadow\/Scalp missiles to help Ukraine<\/a> build its own version.<\/p>\n Britain’s prime minister Andy Burnham lays a wreath of flowers at the tomb of the unknow soldier during a ceremony at Ukraine’s national military memorial cemetery in Hatne, Ukraine. Photograph: WPA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n While the announcement will probably take years to have an impact on the war, it is likely to escalate tensions with Moscow at an already fraught moment in UK-Russian relations.<\/p>\n Burnham said in a statement on Sunday night:<\/p>\n \u201cOn Ukraine\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s security is our security.<\/p>\n The friendship between our two countries will long outlast Russia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve. We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.\u201d<\/p>\n Burnham will announce in Kyiv that the UK will help France set up assembly lines in Ukraine for long-range missiles, which the French president, Emmanuel Macron, promised last month.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Later today, Burnham will co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing \u2013 alongside France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron and Germany\u2019s Friedrich Merz \u2013 which will be held in a hybrid format, with some leaders dialling in from their capitals.<\/p>\n I will keep an eye on this for you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>UK’s PM Burnham lays flowers at national military memorial cemetery on Ukraine’s Independence Day – in picturesPrime Minister Andy Burnham lays flowers during a ceremony at Ukraine’s national military memorial cemetery in Hatnem southwest of Kyiv, during his first foreign trip, to mark Ukraine’s independence day and signal the UK’s continued support for the country under his administration. Photograph: Henry Nicholls\/PABritain’s prime minister Andy Burnham attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown Ukrainian soldier at Ukraine’s national military memorial cemetery in Hatne, southwest of Kyiv. Photograph: Henry Nicholls\/Pool AFP\/APLuxembourg’s prime minister Luc Frieden, Finland’s president Alexander Stubb and Britain’s prime minister Andy Burnham take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at at Ukraine’s national military memorial cemetery in Hatne, southwest of Kyiv. Photograph: Henry Nicholls\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>European leaders join in congratulations on Ukraine’s independence day<\/p>\n Several other European leaders published their best wishes for Ukraine<\/a> on their social media channels, including German chancellor Friedrich Merz, Estonian president Alan Karis, Romanian president Nicu\u0219or Dan, and Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson.<\/p>\n \u201cFor years, Ukrainians both at home and abroad have been defending their country\u2019s independence with remarkable courage against Russia\u2019s brutal war of aggression. In doing so, they are showing the whole world what it means to stand up for freedom and for a just peace. Today, on this important day, this is particularly true. We stand firmly by Ukraine\u2019s side,\u201d Merz said in a short video.<\/p>\n Expect to hear from more leaders during the day.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Ukraine will not fail,’ Zelenskyy says as he marks 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day Burnham\u2019s visit to Kyiv comes on the 35th anniversary of Ukraine\u2019s Independence Day, a holiday that understandably means so much more during the 1,643 days of the full-scale Russian invasion \u2013 and counting.<\/p>\n President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy walks past honour guards during the raising of the State Flag at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in Kyiv. Photograph: Ukrinform\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n In a special address<\/a>, Ukraine\u2019s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted that \u201cthings are really very difficult for all of us,\u201d but said the unity of all Ukrainians \u201cis \u2026 holding us firmly by the hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as long as the enemy does not break this circle of ours, Ukraine will not fall, will achieve its peace, and will succeed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said Russia\u2019s Putin \u201cgot the most important thing wrong\u201d when he underestimated the Ukrainian people\u2019s willingness to fight for their country.<\/p>\n \u201cPutin hopes that we are tired. But we know that he is mortal. He never understood us. Now he will not have time to. <\/p>\n You wanted to take all our Ukraine, all our land; instead, you lost your oil refineries, your fleet, your profits, your entire generation that you sent into the meat grinder. <\/p>\n You wanted us erased from the map; now you are absent from the international agenda of the future civilisation. For 27 years, the head of Russia has talked about greatness, while Russia is standing in lines for gasoline.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelenskyy also renewed his push for even more help from other European leaders, telling them \u201cwe are not asking you to fight for us, [but] to give Ukraine everything it needs to stop this war.\u201d<\/p>\n Expect him to repeat this message to Burnham and other leaders in Kyiv throughout the day.<\/p>\n I will bring you all the latest here.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Monday, 24 August 2026, it\u2019s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.<\/p>\n Good morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>EU pledges $7.1bn in aid to Ukraine<\/p>\n The European Union has announced that it has approved \u20ac6.1bn ($7.1bn) in military aid for Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOn Ukraine\u2019s Independence Day, we show our unfaltering support,\u201d Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, posted on X<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we approved \u20ac6.1 billion for the air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs. Europe<\/a> stands with you today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>UK is ‘four-square behind Ukraine\u2019s independence’, PM’s office says<\/p>\n UK prime minister Andy Burnham will tell the Ukrainian people that the UK \u201cis four-square behind Ukraine\u2019s independence, and Russia\u2019s threats only strengthen the UK\u2019s resolve\u201d, the PM\u2019s office said<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n In addition to announcing that Britain will boost Ukraine\u2019s capacity <\/a>to make its own long-range missiles, Burnham is expected to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Morning opening: Andy Burnham arrives in Ukraine<\/p>\n Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Europe<\/a>. I am kicking us off but Jakub Krupa will be taking over a little later on.<\/p>\n UK \u2060prime \u2060minister Andy \u200bBurnham arrived in \u2060the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday alongside a number of European leaders \u2060to mark \u200bthe \u200ccountry\u2019s independence \u200cday.<\/p>\n Burnham was photographed at Kyiv railway station shaking hands with Ukrainian foreign \u200cminister Andrii Sybiha, who said Burnham was to be joined by Ant\u00f3nio Costa, president of the European Council; Luc Frieden, the prime minister of Luxembourg; Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova; and Alar Karis, the president of Estonia.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Ukraine<\/a>, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds. In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side,\u201d Ukrainian foreign \u200cminister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X announcing their arrival.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd today, we know for sure who our true friends are.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1787565251_337_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n