National security, but did not name any of the diplomats. It said the move was a measure against multiple unfriendly acts. Its not clear whether the diplomats are currently in russia. In response, the Foreign Office here in london says that russia had revoked the staff members diplomatic accreditation last months and that russias accusations against them were completely baseless. The statement adds that the uk was unapologetic about protecting its national interests. For the very latest on this developing story, i spoke to our eastern European Correspondent sarah rainsford. I think the timing of this is key, its not accidental that this has been released, that this is happening precisely as those discussions are taking place in washington about whether or not ukraine can use western long range missiles to strike inside russia. They are absolutely connected. Its interesting looking of a statement from the fsb, the russian security agency, talking about expelling essentially six members
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
Doing so would be a serious escalation of the war, but Keir Starmer said moscow started the conflict and can end it by withdrawing its troops from ukraine. Our Political Editor Chris Mason was on the prime Ministers Plane, and sent this report shortly after landing. The Prime Minister arriving here in washington with the foreign secretary, David Lammy Sir Keir Starmer s second visit to the White House in two months. Ukraines allies remain rather guarded in their public remarks about a change in policy on the use of Western Missiles inside russia. But the diplomatic dashing to arrive at a decision is in plain sight and that has proved enough for President Putin to say this. Translation if this decision is made, it will mean nothing other than direct participation of nato countries, the United States, I European countries. In the war in ukraine. It is their direct participation and this, of course, significantly changes the very essence of the conflict. This will mean that nato countries
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