Russia has threatened to retaliate against the UK over its support for Kyiv, warning that Britain and France are 'playing with fire' after London pledged to help Ukraine begin producing its own long-range missiles.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- Russia said it could strike military targets inside and outside Ukraine in retaliation for UK support of Kyiv.
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would give Kyiv access to classified technology to produce Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.
- Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Britain and France were 'playing with fire'.
- Reports say the CIA director warned the Kremlin against attacking NATO during a secretive visit this week.
Russia has warned that it could retaliate against the United Kingdom over its support for Ukraine, saying it might strike military targets inside and outside Ukraine, according to the Guardian.
The warning follows an announcement by Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham, who said on Monday that the UK would allow Kyiv access to classified technology so it could start its own production of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday that Britain and France were ‘playing with fire’, according to the Guardian.
The Kremlin’s threat came amid reports that the director of the CIA warned Russia against attacking NATO during a secretive visit this week, the Guardian reported.
The exchange marks a further escalation in tensions between Moscow and Western governments over their continued military and technological support for Ukraine.
Storm Shadow cruise missiles are long-range weapons, and the UK’s pledge to help Ukraine produce its own supply signals a deepening of British involvement in Kyiv’s war effort.
Why it matters
Russia's threat to strike targets over UK support raises the stakes in an already dangerous standoff between Moscow and Western powers. The prospect of Ukraine producing its own long-range missiles, combined with reported CIA warnings to the Kremlin, points to a heightened risk of wider confrontation involving NATO members.
Frequently asked questions
What did Russia threaten to do?
According to the Guardian, Russia said it could retaliate against the UK by striking military targets inside and outside Ukraine over Britain's support for Kyiv.
What did the UK pledge to Ukraine?
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would allow Kyiv access to classified technology to start its own production of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.
Who said Britain was 'playing with fire'?
Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, said Britain and France were 'playing with fire', according to the Guardian.
Timeline
- Russia warns Britain is ‘playing with fire’ over its support of Ukraine
The Guardian World: Kremlin threatens retaliation after Burnham says UK will help Ukraine start producing long-range missiles Russia has said it could retaliate against the UK for its support of Kyiv by striking military targets inside and outside Ukraine, amid reports that the director of the CIA w