Translation:
Russia has expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage, just ahead of a crucial meeting at the White House between U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The meeting is expected to focus on the possible use of Western long-range weapons by Ukraine to target military objectives within Russia.
On the eve of the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued threats, stating that if Ukraine uses Western missiles to strike targets within Russia, it would mean that Russia is at war with NATO, and Moscow will respond accordingly.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that the British Foreign Office was coordinating the “escalation of the political and military situation” in Ukraine with the aim of defeating Russia in the war and that the six diplomats posed a threat to national security.
The British Foreign Office responded, calling the accusations “completely unfounded,” emphasizing that the diplomats’ accreditation was revoked by Russia last month as retaliation for previous British actions in response to Russian activities across Europe and the UK.
According to the Washington Post, the expulsion of the six British diplomats by Russia is a response to “multiple hostile actions” taken by London, with the FSB accusing the diplomats of espionage and sabotage. The six diplomats from the political section of the British Embassy in Moscow were allegedly in contact with journalists from the Novaya Gazeta newspaper and the human rights organization Memorial, which has been designated as a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.
In a Friday morning interview, an FSB official said, “They are like classic British spies,” adding that such actions will no longer be tolerated. The Russian authorities released the names and photos of the diplomats, stating that their activities posed a threat to Russia’s security.
Russia’s decision to expel the British diplomats further intensifies the already strained relationship between the two countries, and these diplomatic developments are expected to significantly impact military decisions to be discussed during the Biden-Starmer meeting.
Putin’s threat underscores Moscow’s concern over the consequences of allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with Western weapons. “The issue is not whether Ukraine will be allowed to strike Russia or not,” Putin said in a televised interview, adding that such actions would mean NATO states are directly involved in the war.
Ukraine has repeatedly dismissed such threats, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defending Ukraine’s right to self-defense. In a statement to British journalists, he emphasized that “Ukraine has the right to defend itself,” noting that Russia started the war.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also sought to downplay Putin’s remarks, saying they reflect the “difficult situation” Russia faces on the frontlines. Throughout the war, Russia has set several “red lines” that have been crossed without significant consequences.
The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on these new warnings, highlighting that this time Putin seems more serious, as such attacks would be considered NATO strikes against Russia.
During the upcoming Biden-Starmer meeting, the issue of lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons for long-range attacks by Ukraine is expected to be raised.
Ukraine has been pushing for months to lift these restrictions to strike Russian military facilities that have caused significant damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and claimed many lives. When asked on Tuesday whether the U.S. is ready to lift the restrictions, President Biden replied that the matter is “under discussion.”
