ALLOWING Ukraine access to classified technology that would allow it to produce its long-range cruise missiles signals another step closer to a European-wide conflict, Stop the War Coalition said today.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced on Monday that Britain would give Kiev the blueprints for Storm Shadow missiles for its fight against Russia.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria ⁠Zakharova said today that Moscow would respond to Ukrainian strikes using British weapons by hitting any Britain’s military facilities in Ukraine and beyond.

A Stop the War Coalition spokeswoman told the Morning Star: “Ukraine is entirely dependent on Britain and Europe for arms, logistics, training and intelligence and Andy Burnham is committed not to seeking the negotiated peace deal that the majority of Ukrainians want, but to escalating the war harder than ever. 

“It is little wonder that his gift of British blueprints for key missile components signals another step closer to the wider European conflict that his government and the military generals who advise it seem so intent on marching us into.”

Russia’s threat came after reports that the director of the CIA warned the Kremlin against attacking Nato during a secretive visit on Tuesday.

John Ratcliffe visited Moscow after a US intelligence assessment that Russia could be planning to test Nato with a limited assault on an allied country, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

This could reportedly range from a cyber-attack to a small-scale incursion, probably in a Baltic nation.

Mr Burnham told broadcasters: “It’s a challenging situation when we look around the world right now.

“But from what we’re doing, people need to be sure of this: we’re doing what we’ve done since the start of this conflict, which is to provide that back-up support to Ukraine to be able to defend themselves, because they do need to do that.

“They are obviously in an impossible situation, so challenging, but Britain needs to be there and be a constant as they go through this illegal invasion that they’re facing.

“So, we will continue to do that. Prime ministers before me gave that assurance and I visited Ukraine to send a really clear message to the Ukrainian people that Britain isn’t changing course.”