Russia has accused six British diplomats of spying and decided to expel them, claiming they were carrying out intelligence-gathering and subversive activities. This move comes in response to the U.K.’s decision in May to revoke the credentials of a Russian attaché and limit Moscow’s diplomatic activities in London. The tensions between the two countries have escalated as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks approval to use Western-supplied weapons to target Russia, a move that President Vladimir Putin warns could lead to war with NATO.
The Federal Security Service of Russia stated that the British diplomats were sent to Russia by a division of the U.K.’s Foreign Office with the primary objective of causing a strategic defeat for their country. The FSB warned that if other diplomats are found to be engaging in similar activities, their missions in Russia will be terminated early. The British diplomats allegedly met with independent media and rights groups labeled as “foreign agents” by the Russian authorities. Moscow accused the U.K. of carrying out subversive actions aiming to harm the Russian people, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.K. is not currently being considered.
The U.K. Foreign Office has refuted the Russian allegations, calling the expulsions baseless and noting that they occurred weeks ago in retaliation for actions taken by the British government against Russian state-directed activities. This includes revoking the credentials of a Russian attaché in London, closing Russian diplomatic properties used for spying, and imposing a five-year limit on all Russian diplomats in Britain. Expulsions of diplomats have become increasingly common since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Western countries and Japan expelling a total of 670 Russian diplomats between 2022 and October 2023.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the U.K. does not seek conflict with Russia, stating that Russia initiated the conflict by illegally invading Ukraine. While the issue of Ukraine’s request to use long-range missiles against Russia is expected to be at the forefront of discussions during Starmer’s visit to Washington, it is unlikely that any policy changes will be announced at this time. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials continue to push for approval to use Western-provided weapons against deeper targets in Russia, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that President Joe Biden and Starmer are likely to discuss the matter during their visit.
In light of the ongoing tensions between Russia and Western countries, the situation in Ukraine remains a major point of contention. As efforts are made to address Ukraine’s request for advanced weaponry, the possibility of a broader conflict involving NATO and Russia looms large. The diplomatic exchanges between Moscow and London reflect the deep divide in their relationship, with both sides accusing the other of engaging in harmful activities. The outcome of the current situation will likely have far-reaching implications for the region and international relations as a whole.
