UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced during his first visit to Ukraine that the United Kingdom will help Kyiv build its own long-range missiles. As part of this commitment, the UK is handing over blueprints and sharing Anglo-French long-range cruise missile technology.
This action is the latest in a growing trend of Western countries helping Ukraine build the weapons it needs to fight the Russian invasion. The UK's willingness to share classified missile-production knowledge sets a potentially important precedent. It could also refocus attention on the US pledge to license production of critical air defense interceptors as Kyiv faces withering Russian strikes heading into the winter.
The development comes as European leaders joined President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv for official celebrations marking Ukraine's Independence Day. Amid these events, Moscow has warned of consequences over the reported use of British drones by Ukraine.