Moscow is once again unhappy with British policy, as demonstrated by its increasingly hysterical conduct on the diplomatic front. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the UK Chargé d’Affaires in Russia, Dainė Dolakia, to protest London’s support for Ukraine and its transfer of new weapons systems to Kyiv. According to the Russian side, “the highly confrontational policy pursued by the United Kingdom on the Ukrainian track is clearly aimed at prolonging and escalating the armed conflict to the greatest possible extent, and only pushes back the prospect of a political settlement”.
Firstly, it is obvious that what worries the Kremlin most is Ukraine obtaining permission and licenses from the UK and France to establish domestic production of long-range Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles, which pose a threat to the rear of the Russian occupation forces. Secondly, through such statements, Moscow is demonstrating its complete unwillingness to engage in any negotiations aimed at ending the conflict – its sole objective is the complete dismantling of Ukrainian statehood.
“The British side was presented with a list of international obligations it is violating as a result of its support for Kyiv. The comprehensive risks associated with the destructive actions of the British were explained, as well as the futility of their efforts against the background of the superiority of the Russian Armed Forces, which retain the strategic initiative in the special military operation zone”, – the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official statement reads.
In other words, Moscow seriously seems to assume that British diplomats will unquestioningly believe the propaganda fairy tales about the Russian army’s successes on the battlefield in its war against Ukraine. This is particularly striking against the background of reports about Ukrainian successes in Donbas: over the past month, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have not only managed to halt the invaders’ advance, but have also recaptured an important area of around 200 square kilometres, while Russian losses during the same period have reportedly reached approximately 50,000 personnel.
To make its statements more convincing, Kremlin officials started to use open threats: “It was particularly emphasised that, in light of the policy pursued by the United Kingdom, the Russian side reserves the right to take the necessary retaliatory measures as part of the exercise of its right to self-defence. It was confirmed that any British military facilities in Ukraine used to launch strikes against Russian territory constitute legitimate targets. It was emphasized that full responsibility for any further deterioration of the situation lies with London”.
In short, at a time when yet another Russian offensive in Donbas has failed spectacularly, while Ukraine is placing significant pressure on Russian critical infrastructure and receiving the technologies necessary to intensify its efforts in this area, Moscow is resorting to threats and fabrications about its supposed successes. Such attempts to push false narratives only underscore the Kremlin’s inability to achieve its objectives through other means and its inability to influence London’s decisions, both on support for Ukraine and on strengthening the UK’s own defence capabilities.
