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Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday after agreeing to provide Ukraine with blueprints to produce long-range missiles.
The Prime Minister was announcing that he will allow European defence firm MBDA to declassify information on UK components for the long-range Scalp missile, the French-produced version of the UK’s Storm Shadow.
The “deep precision strike” missiles use shared French and British technology, and Ukraine and France are looking to set up local assembly lines to produce them in Ukraine.
Moscow has threatened “consequences” over the reported use of British drones by Ukraine in its recent ramping up of deep strikes into Russia’s mainland.
Russia’a ambassador to London, Andrei Kelin, has also recently been removed by the Kremlin in a sign of the worsening relations between the two countries.
But Defence Minister Luke Pollard, on the media round for the Government, dismissed the latest threats, stressing that Russia was already targeting the UK, including by mapping out its underwater infrastructure cables.
He stressed that Britain and its allies would continue to support Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s war launched in February 2022, including now with missile technology.
He told Times Radio: “We have seen in the past when we've transferred technology, kits and equipment to our Ukrainian friends, that they're inventive and fast in their deployment.
“Now, that's really important because being able to bring this war to an end, being able to create the peace that they so desperately need is so important.”
The Prime Minister was visiting Ukraine’s capital on his first foreign trip to mark Ukraine’s independence day and signal the UK’s continued support for the country.
He arrived on Monday morning and was set to chair his first meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing, set up by the UK and France to support Ukraine under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister will also take part in Independence Day events and accept an award on behalf of the British people recognising the UK’s support.
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Mr Burnham was set to assure Ukrainians of the UK’s backing and reiterate that Russia’s threats only strengthen British resolve.
The PM 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.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer went to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelensky on his final trip to Ukraine before leaving office (PA)Mr Burnham welcomed President Volodymyr Zelensky to the UK during his first weeks in office.
The Prime Minister said: “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.”
Last week, Russia accused the UK of deliberately escalating the conflict in relation to the UK-made drones and said the deeper the country’s involvement became, “the higher the price it will pay”.