Russia has revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage, in a fresh escalation of geopolitical tensions as London and Washington discuss easing restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russian territory.
The Russian Federal Security Service claimed the diplomats engaged in “subversive” activities, but provided no evidence to support the allegations.
Britain dismissed the accusations as “completely baseless,” revealing that the expulsions took place weeks ago and that the diplomats had already left Russia. The UK government is working to replace them.
The revelation came just as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with US President Joe Biden in Washington to discuss allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons for deeper strikes into Russian territory. Russia’s state media publicized the move, potentially timed to coincide with the high-level meeting, signaling a clear warning to Western powers.
Moscow’s actions follow diplomatic reprisals between the two nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had recently visited Kyiv with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss military aid with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, further amplifying tensions.
READ ALSO : Putin warns of impending war if NATO approves long-range missiles for Ukraine
Credible News recalls that Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, stating that any move to allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles for strikes deep inside Russia would be seen as an act of war.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Putin cautioned that if NATO countries lift restrictions on such weapons, it would signal direct involvement in the conflict. “If NATO countries—particularly the United States and European nations—support this, it will mean they are at war with Russia,” Putin said, emphasizing that Moscow would respond to the growing threat accordingly.
If NATO authorizes the use of long-range weapons, systems like the US-made ATACMS, with a range of 180 miles, could be used to target Russian assets, including newly-arrived short-range Iranian ballistic missiles. This development would mark a significant turning point in the ongoing war, pushing the conflict closer to a broader international confrontation.
Credible News.ng
