Russia accused Britain of repeatedly taking steps that deepen its involvement in the conflict and prevent progress towards a negotiated settlement.Russia has accused the UK of 'directly' participating in the war in Ukraine after London agreed to share classified information to help Kyiv develop its own long-range missiles. The move has drawn a sharp warning from Moscow, which said British military support was adding “fuel to the fire” and obstructing efforts towards a peace deal.The warning came as Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on Monday for his first overseas trip since taking office. Burnham was expected to announce that Britain had authorised defence company MBDA to share previously classified information about British-made components used in the SCALP long-range cruise missile.The information could eventually allow Ukraine to develop and produce its own version of the weapon. SCALP is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow missile, with the two systems incorporating shared French and British technology. The move is part of wider British and French plans to establish long-range missile production in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow viewed the decision extremely negatively.He accused Britain of repeatedly taking steps that deepen its involvement in the conflict and prevent progress towards a negotiated settlement.“Britain is involved in this war on the side of the Kyiv regime. Britain methodically and regularly adds fuel to the fire and methodically and regularly hatches schemes to prevent even the slightest progress in the peaceful settlement process,” Peskov told reporters.Peskov also warned that Russia was already working to locate facilities involved in producing long-range missiles and other military equipment. “The production sites of such missiles, the production sites of other military equipment” would be identified, he said, with Russian forces intent on destroying them.The latest warning follows an earlier threat from Moscow over Britain’s military assistance to Ukraine. Russia had warned London of unspecified “consequences” after reports that British-made drones had been used in long-range strikes against Russian territory for the first time.Britain has continued to expand its military backing for Kyiv. London has also agreed to support France in establishing assembly lines in Ukraine for long-range missiles, while previously allowing Ukraine to use British-made drones for attacks against Russian targets.Burnham rejected Moscow’s accusations and described Russia’s threats against Britain as “outrageous”. Speaking in Kyiv, he said Britain would maintain its support for Ukraine despite the Kremlin’s warnings.“Despite Russia’s outrageous threats to my country, we will continue our support for Ukraine.”He later challenged the Kremlin’s characterisation of British assistance during an interview. “Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it?”Burnham made the remarks as European leaders gathered in Kyiv to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day. He compared Ukraine’s struggle against Russia with Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany and said Europe owed a debt of gratitude to Ukrainians for resisting Moscow.“My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st,” Burnham said in a speech outside St Sophia Cathedral.The British prime minister also joined a conference call with leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries that have pledged to help guarantee Ukraine’s security in the event of a future truce with Russia. European Council President António Costa travelled to Kyiv alongside Burnham, while French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were expected to participate remotely.The confrontation comes as Russia and Ukraine remain locked in an escalating campaign of long-range attacks. Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russian oil and logistics infrastructure with drones, while Moscow has continued missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities, infrastructure and military-related facilities.Ukraine has warned that Russia is building up its ballistic missile stockpile and considering the mobilisation of an additional 300,000 troops. Kyiv is also facing shortages of US-made Patriot air-defence interceptors, which are considered crucial for countering Russia’s ballistic missile attacks.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.