The UK government has delivered a strong warning to Russia, summoning the Russian Ambassador following what it described as a “malicious and deliberate” campaign of aggression aimed at undermining UK security and democracy.
The move comes in response to a series of public accusations and actions by Moscow, which the UK claims are designed to disrupt its support for Ukraine.
In a full statement released by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the UK government condemned Russia’s behaviour, accusing it of violating diplomatic norms:
“The UK condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s unprecedented and unfounded public campaign of aggression against the UK, including the malicious and completely baseless accusations made against Foreign Office staff last week. This behaviour is in direct contravention to Russia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
“This pattern of behaviour is completely unacceptable, deeply unprofessional, and beneath the standards of conduct between states.”
The FCDO’s statement further highlighted a wider pattern of hostile activities by Russia, including acts of disinformation and sabotage in Europe, along with harassment of British diplomatic missions in Russia. According to the UK, this behaviour is part of an ongoing campaign by Moscow to deter the country’s support for Ukraine:
“This is the latest development in a deliberate campaign by Russia to undermine and threaten UK security and democracy and deter our support for Ukraine, through disinformation, acts of sabotage in Europe, and direct harassment and restrictions against our diplomatic missions in Russia. This campaign will not succeed.”
The UK government concluded its statement with a demand that Russia cease its hostile activities:
“Russia must stop this activity immediately.”
This latest escalation follows growing diplomatic tensions between the UK and Russia, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine. The UK remains one of Ukraine’s key supporters, providing both military and humanitarian assistance.
In summoning the Russian Ambassador, Britain has sent a clear signal that it will not be intimidated or swayed by Russia’s aggressive tactics.
@George
Thnx for reporting this. Please keep this important issue covered.
Endless blah, blah, blah from the Foreign Office even as the defence review prepares for more cuts.
Why on earth should the Russians take any of this seriously? … because they don’t.
Absolutely Roy, Only this week were we issuing warnings to China – like they take us seriously either. It’s embarrassing. It’s time HMG put up or shut up. Issuing warnings to rogue states and the likes of China mean nothing: we know it and so do they. The UK Armed Forces have been decimated and the whole world is only too well aware. HMG needs to take a leaf from Israel’s book – they have invested in and maintained the IDF because they live in a tough neighbourhood where the bad actors only respect power and military strength. Why hasn’t… Read more »
The Israelis act like the British of 80 years ago. But sadly that level of clear thinking, strategy and determined competence is simply beyond HMG now.
What predominates now is a culture of political and bureaucratic incompetence.
What when we occupied one third of the world’s population in contravention of our own laws and international obligations?
I’m pretty happy not to go back to that, I think you will find 99% of Britain is too.
“in contravention of our own laws and international obligations?” So you’re saying the British Empire was illegal? Please what laws and obligations are you referring too…..??
We recognised the right to self determination for peoples in the Leauge of Nations in 1920 then dragged our feet on the issue until 1942.
Many colonial practices in particular slavery were illegal in Britain but condoned or ignored in many British colonies.
Surprisingly running the worlds largest empire wasn’t all sunshine and roses and like it or not we were an occupying force in many countries in the exact same way the Germans were occupying European countries.
This is specifically why Indian independence was in the 1945 manifesto and one of the reason labour won a landslide victory.
Better we scrap totally the armed forces, we are not far away from it, isn,t it ?
So we should stay woke? Not think that’s why the irans of the world are sticking 2 fingers up to us now 🤣
If the Chinese don’t take us serious why were the instantly briefing the the press about the dangers of AUKUS after Kier speech in Washington?
Let’s not delude ourselves – China’s concern with AUKUS is having Australia on their turf armed with nuclear attack boats and the US – they are not concerned with the UK. They know as I am sure the US and Australians also know, that when it comes to it, we will buy only a few of the new boats because that’s all the government of the day will pay for. Given commitments to NATO and our CASD, then no, we will not be a player in the SCS and China knows it.
100 percent bang on the money . Countries don’t take the U.K. seriously now. 4 percent gdp on defence would put some respect back in , that should be the floor . Actually it shouldn’t be based on gdp , it should be based on the threat . Billions got wasted and swallowed up in the NHS and not a word said .
The UK has done more than any other country on planet earth to support Ukraine and defeat Russia.
They clearly take us seriously, they threaten to nuke us more than any other country.
That is their main mark of respect.
Also what else is the foreign office suppose to do, this is how international diplomacy works.
Agreed.
I do not believe that the British Government has any real sense of what the country’s vital interests are. What it has is ideology, slogans and a lot of public musing. And then it also acts in a manner that is totally inconsistent with those same slogans. This is a recipe for ineffectiveness. The UK has cut its defence capabilities for at least twenty years – both parties have done that. In fact, it is continuing to cut those same defence capabilities. Even were it to now turn around and start to do the opposite, it would take a generation… Read more »
Russia must stop this activity immediately.
Yours, Disgusted of Tumbridge Wells
BUT: What are you going to do about it apart from hot air?
Recomending no further defence cuts or rebuilding our dreadfully weak forces might help amplify our voice.
What does our defence budget have to do with Russia, are you planning a war with Russia, perhaps you like to take St Petersburg?
America spends 10 times more than us on defence, has this dettered or affected Russia in any way.
If I double British defence spending tomorrow would Russia take any more of less notice.
Britain has played a vital role in Ukraine but its role has been largely diplomatic, intelligence and financial.
It’s Ukraine fighting not us.
I think we should just terminate diplomatic relations with them and kick out their diplomatic staff from the UK. They have commited well attested war crimes in Ukraine…. what are they still doing over here.
Kicking out all diplomatic staff is generally seen as a prelude to war. The entire point of diplomats is to engage with enemy belligerent nations not one’s you like.
Also used by staff with diplomatic immunity to poison targets with radioactive substances as well.
They did expel six British diplomats last week, accusing them of spying.
Warns to Russia ?, how ? with more defence cuts ? , Jesús….