Russia threatens UK with strikes if British weapons used by Ukraine
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Maria Zakharova called David Cameron's recent statements that London regarded it appropriate for Kiev to employ British weaponry in strikes on Russian territory as "absolutely insane" and "illogical."
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Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova gives a briefing in Moscow on January 26, 2024. (X photo, @mfa_russia)
According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow maintains the right to target British military sites in Ukraine "and abroad" if Kiev decides to attack Russian territory with weapons supplied by the UK.
In an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS, the spokeswoman warned that Russia "If such a scenario is implemented, then our country, the Russian Federation, reserves the right to respond accordingly. That is to use as a target British facilities located both on the territory of Ukraine and abroad -- military facilities, weapons, and so on,"
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the United Kingdom Ambassador Nigel Casey on Monday over UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron's remarks on Ukraine's right to use UK-supplied weapons against Russia.
She criticized Cameron's recent statements that London regarded it appropriate for Kiev to employ British weaponry in strikes on Russian territory as "absolutely insane" and "illogical."
Zakharova also remarked that at the time, Russia "immediately" reacted by summoning the British ambassador and "unambiguously responded to the British ambassador over the statements."
Casey was informed that the Russian side considers Cameron's words strong evidence of a serious escalation against Russia and confirms Britain's increasing involvement in military action on Kiev's side, the statement explained.
Moreover, the ambassador received a warning that Russia could respond to Ukrainian attacks inside Russia, using UK-supplied weapons, by targeting "any UK military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond."
"It has been firmly pointed out to Nigel Casey that David Cameron's hostile verbal attack directly contradicts earlier assurances by the British side when handing over long-range cruise missiles to the Kiev regime that they would not be used on Russian territory under any circumstances," the Ministry said.
The Ministry, therefore, called on Casey to deny Cameron's remarks.
In a similar vein, Russia also summoned France's ambassador to denounce the country's "provocative" policies, following President Emmanuel Macron's comments that Western troops could be sent to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said.
The envoy was summoned after "increasingly belligerent statements" by Paris, it said in a statement.
In a similar vein, Russia also summoned France's ambassador to denounce the country's "provocative" policies, following President Emmanuel Macron's comments that Western troops could be sent to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said.
The envoy was summoned after "increasingly belligerent statements" by Paris, it said in a statement.
German leaks reveal intentions of the West
A recording of German service people dating back to February 19, was leaked in early March, revealing Germany and the United Kingdom's intentions to participate in aggressive actions against Russia.
Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia Today (RT) and the Rossiya Segodnya media group broadcasted the leaked conversation between four German military officers. Officers were discussing a potential attack on the Crimean Bridge using long-range Taurus missiles, a weapon that the German Parliament previously voted not to supply to Kiev. Interestingly, the way the plan was being discussed insinuated that it had already been agreed upon.
The leak further detailed how British forces collaborated with Ukraine on deploying Storm Shadow missiles against targets up to 150 miles behind Russian lines.
"When it comes to mission planning," Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the head of the German Air Force Luftwaffe says in the leaks, "I know how the English do it, they do it completely in reach back. They also have a few people on the ground, they do that, the French don’t."
"Reachback" is a military concept that denotes the transfer of intelligence, equipment, and support from rear areas to units stationed at the front. Gerhartz suggests that the British strategy goes beyond this to include on-site support.
More importantly, Cameron's recent remarks come amid increased talks of potential NATO involvement in Ukraine, which would put, for the first time, Western countries in direct confrontation with Russia, marking an extremely dangerous move, that could force the world into a major war.
