Tensions between Russia and the UK escalated further as the Russian government accused six British diplomats in Moscow of espionage and sabotage, revoking their accreditation. The diplomats were said to be involved in subversive activities and intelligence gathering with the aim of escalating the conflict in Ukraine. The UK Foreign Office dismissed the allegations as completely baseless, calling the move a tit-for-tat retaliation for Western actions against Russian activities in Europe and the UK. The expelled diplomats have already left Russia and have been replaced.
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden in Washington, DC to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The FSB, Russia’s security agency, accused the British foreign ministry of coordinating efforts to strategically defeat Russia in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Diplomatic relations between the two countries are at a historic low, with previous expulsions and restrictions on Russian diplomats by the UK.
The FSB also claimed the British diplomats had recruited Russian teenagers, organized provocations, and held meetings with opposition figures at the British ambassador’s residence in Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported the FSB’s assessment, accusing the British embassy of violating the Vienna Convention. President Putin warned that allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons inside Russia could lead to war with NATO. The decision on whether to provide such weapons to Ukraine is expected to be discussed during Starmer’s meeting with Biden.
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