Moscow withdraws ambassador from the UK amid escalating tensions
Moscow has withdrawn its UK ambassador as relations between Britain and Russia continue to deteriorate amid Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, reports BritPanorama.
Andrey Kelin, who had held the position for over seven years, left his post on 21 July. There is currently no indication from Russia as to when a replacement will be appointed, according to The Times.
The Russian embassy in London has denied intentions to downgrade diplomatic relations, stating that ties have “deteriorated to an unprecedentedly low level entirely on London’s initiative.”
A spokesperson for the Russian embassy remarked that Kelin had made “considerable efforts to preserve contacts and channels of communication” with the UK, but accused the British government of opting for a “path of confrontation” with Russia.
“He left Britain in the hope that a more constructive and respectful dialogue could eventually be restored, should the UK reconsider its policies towards our country,” the spokesperson noted, adding that the embassy is now overseen by the chargé d’affaires.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated, “This is a matter for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have an ambassador and embassy in Moscow to engage and raise concerns with the Russian government. We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, which has the right to defend itself against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.”
In a recent statement, the Russian embassy claimed reports indicating Ukrainian forces had utilized unmanned aircraft made by UK firms “confirm that London is deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis.”
The embassy accused Britain of “seeking to contain Russia and inflict maximum damage on it by proxy” and warned that the deeper its involvement becomes, “the higher the price it will pay.”
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” the embassy asserted.
In response, Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized that Britain would not be swayed by Russian threats. He stated, “This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100 per cent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.”
Burnham reiterated Britain’s commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense, stating, “We are not fair-weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
The circumstances surrounding Kelin’s departure remain unclear; previously, he had rejected claims of Russian involvement in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings, labeling them as a “staged” event akin to an Agatha Christie novel.
