UK summons Russian ambassador to denounce ‘campaign of aggression’

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The UK government has summoned the Russian ambassador in London, Andrei Kelin, in response to the “unprecedented campaign of aggression” launched by the Russian authorities, which includes the “unfounded” accusations made last week against British diplomatic personnel.

Last week, Moscow revoked the accreditation of six diplomatic workers and London issued a statement denouncing what it considers a recurring violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

According to a spokesman for the British Foreign Office, this is “a completely unacceptable pattern of behaviour, highly unprofessional and falling short of the standards of conduct (in relations) between States”.

Keir Starmer’s government has claimed that with this “deliberate campaign”, which includes acts of disinformation or sabotage, the Russian authorities are seeking to undermine “the security and democracy” of the United Kingdom and, at the same time, to pressure it to stop supporting Ukraine. “Russia must immediately stop this activity,” it demanded in a statement.

The Russian embassy later said that Ambassador Kelin had explained to the British authorities the reasons for Moscow’s decision to cancel the accreditation of British diplomatic workers, pointing out that it was a “natural response” to the successive false statements made by the United Kingdom.

Specifically, Moscow has pointed directly to London’s decision to apply “unilateral restrictive measures, including the forced termination of business trips of several Russian diplomats.” Russia has thus considered that “the work of the aforementioned Britons went beyond the scope of diplomatic activities” provided for by the Vienna Convention.