Russia warns UK. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that its forces might strike “ any British military installation or equipment on Ukrainian territory and beyond “, if kyiv used ” British weapons » once morest targets in Russia.
The spokesperson for Russian diplomacy published on Telegram videos of the successive arrivals of the two British and French ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicating that they had been summoned. In a statement, Russian diplomacy indicated that British Ambassador Nigel Casey had been there following statements by British Foreign Minister David Cameron “ on the right of Ukraine to strike the territory of Russia using British weapons ».
« N. Casey has been warned that any British military installation or equipment in Ukraine and beyond its borders might be targeted in response to Ukrainian strikes with British weapons on Russian territory “, indicated the Russian ministry in this press release.
According to Russian diplomacy, David Cameron’s remarks ” directly contradict the assurances given by the British side during the transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine “, according to which they would not be used once morest the ” Russian territory ».
Nigel Casey was “ invited to reflect on the catastrophic consequences of the hostile measures taken by London » and to disavow David Cameron’s statements, added Russian diplomacy in this press release. No comment was immediately made on the summons of the French ambassador to Moscow, Pierre Lévy, nor on the causes of this summons.
Moscow denounces the policy provocative ” from Paris
Russia also summoned the French ambassador to Moscow on Monday to denounce the policy “ provocative » from Paris regarding the conflict in Ukraine, following French President Emmanuel Macron once more raised the possibility of sending Western ground troops to Ukraine.
« Due to increasingly belligerent statements from the French authorities and the receipt of information indicating France’s growing involvement in the conflict around Ukraine (…) French Ambassador Pierre Lévy has been summoned », indicated Russian diplomacy in a press release. “ The Russian side presented its principled assessment of the destructive and provocative line of Paris, which leads to an escalation of the conflict “, she added.
According to this source, “ attempts by the French authorities to create a kind of “strategic ambiguity” for Russia, with their irresponsible statements regarding the possible sending of Western contingents to Ukraine, are doomed to failure ». « The objectives and missions of the special military operation (in Ukraine) will be achieved », concludes the press release.
In an interview with the weekly The Economist, published Thursday, Emmanuel Macron assumed his position on the possible sending of troops to Ukraine. “ If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there was a Ukrainian request – which is not the case today – we should legitimately ask ourselves the question “, said the French president. He created controversy at the end of February by asserting that sending Western armed forces to Ukrainian soil should not “ be excluded ” in the future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also ordered the upcoming holding of nuclear exercises in response to comments by Western leaders, including his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, concerning the possible sending of NATO soldiers to Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. The Russian Defense Ministry assured that this was in response to “ menaces » uttered by Western leaders once morest Russia.
David Cameron visited kyiv last week
The head of British diplomacy visited kyiv last Thursday. There, he notably met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Chmygal and his counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, according to the British Foreign Office.
Sending troops to Ukraine: “We should legitimately ask ourselves the question” if kyiv requests it, insists Emmanuel Macron
David Cameron announced in kyiv that the United Kingdom intends to bring together its international partners next month to raise more contributions to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU, administered by the United Kingdom), to meet the needs of kyiv in terms of arms in the face of the Russian invasion.
Since its creation in 2022, the fund, which brings together the United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Lithuania, with contributions from Iceland, Australia and New Zealand, has so far collected £900 million in pledges.
« Ukraine fiercely defends once morest Russia’s illegal invasion, turning a war Putin thought would last days into years “, David Cameron said in a statement. “ But this war is the challenge of our generation, and Ukraine cannot meet it alone “, he added, emphasizing the need to ensure that the country has what it has ” need to win ».
« Through our multi-year military funding, arms supply and vital support to protect and repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the UK stands with Ukraine » and will “ as long as it takes “, he added.
584 million euros in additional aid
The British Foreign Minister also announced the start of negotiations with Ukraine for a vast hundred-year partnership on cooperation in trade, security, but also subjects such as science, culture or education, mentioned by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a surprise visit to kyiv in January.
War in Ukraine: Norway, one of kyiv’s biggest supporters, increases its military and civilian aid
David Cameron’s visit comes just over a week following British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced an additional aid of 500 million pounds sterling (584 million euros) to reach three billion pounds a year (3, 5 billion euros), as well as the supply of new munitions.
These include precision-guided bombs, air defense missiles and equipment for 100 mobile air defense teams to enable Ukraine to shoot down Russian drones and missiles, according to British diplomacy.
(With AFP)