On thursday, President Putin warned western governments not to let ukraine Target Russia with western arms. We can cross live now to warsaw and speak to our eastern Europe Correspondent Sarah Rainsford. Always good to talk to you. First of all, i wanted your reaction to the news of the expulsion. Reaction to the news of the Emulsion Reaction to the news of the expulsion. Yes, i think it is fair to say expulsion. Yes, i think it is fair to say the expulsion. Yes, i think it is fair to say the timing expulsion. Yes, i think it is fair to say the timing is expulsion. Yes, i think it is fair to say the timing is no | fair to say the timing is no accident. I think this is quite clearly, the timing of the announcement, linked to the talks are taking place. It should be allowed to use long range Western Missiles. I think it is connected as a statement to what we had from the fsb, the Security Service in russia. They say that they remove the accreditation from six british diplomats at the Brit
News of these expulsions . Mat news of these expulsions . Not surprised. News of these expulsions . Not surprised, not news of these expulsions . Iirrt surprised, not really shocked. Sad on the bed. My understanding is from Whitehall Sources is that the expulsions actually took place last month and had more to do with a tit for Tat Retaliation between the uk and russia that has been going on for quite a long time. However, the timing of the announcement has everything to do with sir Keir Starmer s meetings in Washington Today and the apparently looming decision about allowing ukrainians to use british Storm Shadow missiles against actual russian territory as opposed to territory that russia has seized. So it is part of a coordinated russian Media Effort to discourage the uk from taking this step, but i think more importantly to try to discourage other allies from following the us lead or supporting it. And it is part of a very long running Action And Reaction cycle between russia and w
With the kremlin saying mr putins words were extremely unambiguous. The meeting between Mr Biden and Sir Keir comes as news emerged of Russias Expulsion of six british diplomats from moscow, accusing them of spying and sabotage, claims the Uk Government says are completely baseless. The kremlin said london had engaged in Multiple Unfriendly Acts and that actions of the British Embassy In Moscow aimed to cause harm to russias people, but the Uk Government says it believes the suspension came after it brought in measures against the russian embassy earlier in the year. Well discuss the expulsion of those diplomats shortly and also how the west is interpreting those comments from President Putin. But first our political editor chris mason, whos travelling with the british Prime Minister, has been talking about the meeting with President Biden about ukraine. They met at the White House in july shortly after the Prime Minister had taken office and when the uk general election. He was here f
Eastern europe correspondent. She explaIned the tImIng of the announcement of the expulsIon. Yeah, I thInk Its faIr to say that the tImIng Is no accIdent. I thInk thIs Is quIte clearly, or the tImIng of the announcement certaInly Is quIte clearly lInked to those talks that are takIng place now over whether or not ukraIne should be allowed to use long range western mIssIles to fIre deep wIthIn russIa at targets there. So I thInk It Is a connected statement that weve seen today from the fsb, the SecurIty ServIce In russIa. Now, what theyre sayIng Is that they have expelled or removed the accredItatIon from sIx brItIsh dIplomats at the brItIsh embassy In moscow, who they were accusIng of IntellIgence actIvItIes and subversIve actIons. But I thInk Its the language around that whIch Is perhaps more IndIcatIve, because what the fsb Is claImIng Is that the brItIsh government, the brItIsh ForeIgn OffIce, Is specIfIcally engaged In subversIon In russIa. It says theres an entIre department whIch
The accusations made by Russias Security Service are Completely Baseless. It comes as the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, is in Washington Dc to hold talks with us president Joe Biden about the war in ukraine. President zelensky wants ukrainian forces to use western weapons against targets inside russia. President putin says any such strikes would mean nato countries were at war with russia. Our diplomatic correspondent, caroline hawley, reports. The prime minister and Foreign Secretary arriving in washington for key Meetings Today are expected to focus on the war in ukraine. Keir starmer s second visit to the White Housein starmer s second visit to the White House in as many months, important decisions are to be discussed. No official word on any change of policy on the use of Western Missiles in russia. This morning to news on State Run Television six british diplomats have had accreditation removed. I nonthreatening russias security. The uk says the accusations are Completely Base