LABOUR was accused of escalating the Russia-Ukraine war after announcing Britain will send 650 missiles to Kiev.

Defence Secretary John Healey is set to announce the £162 million commitment when he meets fellow ministers from across Europe at a military summit.

Mr Healey will attend the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the US Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany.

“These new UK-made missiles will support Ukraine to defend its people, infrastructure, and territory from Putin’s brutal attacks,” he said ahead of the summit.

The 650 Lightweight Multirole Missile (LLM) systems will help boost Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, and are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

Britain has delivered hundreds of LLM to Ukraine in the past, and the latest order is expected to be the first part of an effort to step up European defence production in aid of its war effort.

The package has been primarily funded through Britain’s latest £3 billion a year package for Ukraine, alongside contributions from Norway and others.

A Stop The War Coalition spokeswoman said: “We condemn Keir Starmer and John Healey’s role in escalating the war between two nuclear states, which poses huge risks of a wider conflict.

“The cost of arming Ukraine is money that should instead be used to rebuild our hospitals and schools, to provide decent homes and to lift millions of children out of poverty.

“The British government has no business obstructing potential peaceful resolution and instead keeping a war going which has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

“We call for an end to arms to Ukraine and for the government to call for a ceasefire and peace negotiations as a matter of urgency.”