Russia expels 6 British diplomats amid spat over long-range weapons

Russia has taken a significant diplomatic step by revoking the accreditation of six British diplomats, accusing them of espionage, according to reports on Friday. This latest geopolitical tension unfolds just as London and Washington are weighing the option to permit Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged, without presenting evidence, that the diplomats were engaged in “intelligence and subversive activities,” which it claimed posed a threat to the security of the Russian Federation.

The British government later clarified that the expulsion actually took place last month, labeling the accusations as “completely baseless.” The diplomats have since left Russia, and Britain is now in the process of replacing them.

This revelation came just as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Washington, D.C., for discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden on potentially easing restrictions on Ukraine’s capability to target Russian territory with Western-supplied weaponry.

Moscow, on its part, accused Britain’s Foreign Office of evolving into a body solely focused on inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, a narrative that Russian state media echoed when revealing the identities of the expelled diplomats.

The British Foreign Office issued a statement on Friday, explaining that the expulsions were in response to actions taken by the previous British government in May. During that time, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration had expelled a Russian defense attaché, calling him “an undeclared military intelligence officer.” The Foreign Office firmly rejected the latest claims, stating, “The accusations made today by the FSB against our staff are completely baseless,” while reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding national interests.

The timing of this diplomatic move seems calculated, coinciding with Prime Minister Starmer’s high-profile meeting with President Biden. This followed a recent visit to Kyiv by Britain’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, where he and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has been urging both the U.S. and Britain to allow the use of long-range Western weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, especially following Ukraine’s unexpected incursion into Russia’s Kursk region.

President Biden has expressed a willingness to reconsider limitations on Ukraine’s use of Western missiles to target locations within Russia. However, U.S. officials have tempered expectations, suggesting that Biden may not immediately approve the use of U.S.-provided Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) in Russia, though the possibility of allowing similar systems from Britain and France is under discussion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to NATO, asserting that any relaxation of these restrictions would be perceived as an act of war. “This will mean that NATO countries – the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia,” Putin cautioned. He further emphasized that any change in the conflict’s dynamics would prompt Russia to make “appropriate decisions” in response to the threats it faces.

Tensions between Britain and Russia have been escalating since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with both nations imposing diplomatic and economic sanctions. Moscow has banned numerous British lawmakers, officials, and journalists from entering Russia in recent years as part of a broader tit-for-tat response.

As diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate, the situation remains volatile, with both sides closely watching each other’s next move in this high-stakes geopolitical chess match.