LONDON: The British government on Wednesday summoned the Russian envoy after what it described as an unfounded and unprecedented public campaign of aggression by Russia, including expulsion of Foreign Office staff.
Russian security service last week withdrew the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow after accusing them of sabotage work and spying. Britain described accusations as malicious and completely baseless.
“This pattern of behaviour is completely unacceptable, deeply unprofessional, and beneath the standards of conduct between states,” a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign Office said, calling on Russia to “stop this activity immediately”.
The official said this is the latest development in a deliberate campaign by Russia to threaten and undermine d UK security and democracy and deter London’s support for Kyiv through disinformation.
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Russia’s decision to expel British diplomats heightened tensions between Moscow and London, hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to advance talks on giving the go-ahead for Ukraine to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia.
