Moscow withdraws UK ambassador amid deteriorating relations
Moscow has withdrawn its UK ambassador as relations between Britain and Russia continue to deteriorate amid Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, reports BritPanorama.
Former Russian ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin left his post on July 21, having been in the role for over seven years.
According to The Times, Russia has yet to submit another candidate to the Foreign Office, with no indications on when a replacement may be appointed.
The Russian embassy in London denied any intention 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 accused the UK government of choosing a “path of confrontation” with Russia, despite the former ambassador’s efforts to preserve contacts and communication channels.
“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.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) distanced the UK from the developments, stating: “This is a matter for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
They reiterated, “We have an Ambassador and Embassy in Moscow to engage and raise concerns with the Russian government,” adding, “We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, which has the right to defend itself against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.”
This withdrawal comes as relations between the Kremlin and Downing Street continue to suffer amid Putin’s ongoing war on Ukraine.
Last week, Russia’s embassy to the UK claimed that reports of Ukrainian forces using unmanned aircraft manufactured by UK companies “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,” warning that deeper involvement would result in “the higher the price it will pay.”
“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” it stated.
In response, Prime Minister Andy Burnham affirmed that Britain would not be deterred by such threats. When asked about his message to Putin following the accusations of escalating the war, Burnham said: “This is the UK doing what it has long said it would do, which is to support Ukraine 100 percent against this illegal war led by Vladimir Putin.”
“We are providing support so that Ukraine can defend itself, and that’s been the British position all the way through this conflict by previous prime ministers,” he added. “It remains the case with me. We are not fair weather friends. We will be there in Ukraine’s hour of need, and that won’t change.”
It remains unclear why Kelin left his post after his seven-year tenure. Last year, he denied Russian involvement in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings, claiming they were “staged” in a plot reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel.
