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Russia Raises Concerns Over UK Military Presence in Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – On Friday, Russian officials expressed their apprehension regarding the potential deployment of British military assets in Ukraine, following the announcement of a long-term partnership agreement between Kyiv and London. This agreement, highlighted during discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is viewed with significant concern by Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the issue when questioned about the prospect of the UK establishing military bases in Ukraine under the new partnership. He stated, “Given that Britain is a NATO country, the advancement of its military infrastructure towards our borders is certainly a rather worrying element. In any case, it will be necessary to further analyse what will happen.”
During the talks in Kyiv on Thursday, President Zelenskiy conveyed to Starmer Ukraine’s hope for the presence of Western peacekeeping troops in the event of a conclusion to the conflict with Russia. When pressed on whether the UK would contribute military personnel, Starmer confirmed in an interview with Sky News that he had discussed this with Zelenskiy and emphasized that Britain would “play our full part.”
Peskov further elaborated on Russia’s perspective, labeling the potential for British collaboration with Ukraine in the Sea of Azov as negative. He emphasized that this body of water is viewed by Russia as its “internal sea,” which adds another layer of tension to the geopolitical landscape in the region.
The Sea of Azov is strategically significant, bordered by southwestern Russia, territories in southern Ukraine that have come under Russian control during the ongoing war, and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014. The situation continues to evolve, with international relations at a critical juncture.
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