The British embassy in Moscow in June 2021, with a rainbow flag in celebration of Pride Month despite Russian disapproval. (AFP / Alexander NEMENOV)
- Britain says six of its diplomats expelled from Moscow were not spies.
- Russia’s FSB said on Friday morning the group was a threat to Russia’s security.
- That came just hours ahead of a UK-US meeting about Ukraine’s request for weapons with which to strike deep inside Russia.
The British government on Friday rejected out of hand that six of its diplomats in Moscow were spies, calling the Russian accusations “completely baseless”.
The FSB security service said the diplomats’ accreditation had been withdrawn for suspected espionage and “threatening Russia’s security”.
But the foreign ministry in London indicated that it was a tit-for-tat measure after Western moves against “Russian state-directed activity across Europe and in the UK”.
“We are unapologetic about protecting our national interests,” a statement read.
The six diplomats have already left Russia and been replaced.
Relations between London and Moscow have been at rock bottom for years after two high-profile poisonings of Russian dissidents on UK soil and claims of hacking and political interference.
READ | As Putin says it will mean war, Biden, Starmer to discuss long-range weapons for Ukraine
Britain is one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters militarily in the war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine currently wants UK and US approval to use its long-range missiles to hit targets inside Russia, which President Vladimir Putin has warned would bring NATO into direct conflict with Moscow.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden are due to meet about the issue on Friday night, South African time, just hours after Russia’s expulsion of the UK diplomats.
Britain’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said it was “unapologetic” about protecting British national interests.
In May, London announced it was expelling the Russian defence attache for spying, and removed diplomatic premises status from several Russian properties.
It also imposed a five-year limit on Russian diplomats’ postings, which led to a number leaving the UK.
James Cleverly, then foreign secretary under the previous Conservative government, said the move followed “a pattern of malign activity” by Russia.
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