Zakharova takes a jab at Truss, calls her UK's worst 'disgrace' as PM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Oct 2022 19:05
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For Russia, two things PM Liz Truss will be remembered for in her short-lived term: her catastrophic ignorance and the death of the Queen shortly after she assumed the post.

Resigned UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Britain has "never known such a disgrace as prime minister," referring to Liz Truss who recently presented her resignation as the UK's Prime Minister after holding the job for only six weeks.

"The catastrophic ignorance and the queen's funeral immediately after her audience with Liz Truss will be remembered," Zakharova said on Telegram.

"Britain has never known such a disgrace as prime minister."

Relations between the UK and Russia have long been sour prior to the conflict in Ukraine, but they have further deteriorated since Russia began its special operations in Ukraine.

Not only have they frozen hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian assets, but they also took part in training Ukrainian armed forces to fight against Russia.

On March 5, Zakharova accused London of playing one of the leading roles in the sanctions hysteria and said Moscow will not forget the UK's cooperation with nationalists in Kiev.

"London has completely subordinated its foreign policy to the tasks of inflicting as much damage as possible to our national interests," Zakharova said.

When Truss was running for the elections, the Kremlin said about Russia's relations with the UK, "Judging by statements made by Madame Truss when she was still foreign minister... one can say with much certainty that no changes for the better are expected."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had also said about Truss prior to her electoral victory that she has a pre-existing negative attitude toward Russia, yet under the current conditions, it would be more important for London to sort out relations with its closest neighbors, including France.

Just two weeks prior to the start of the Russian-Ukraine conflict, Truss did visit Russia as Foreign Secretary in February.

During her meeting with Lavrov, she mistook two regions of Russia for regions of Ukraine.

Liz Truss resigned today less than two months after being appointed as Conservative Party leader and head of the UK government.

"I recognize though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate, on which I was elected by the Conservative Party. I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party," Truss told reporters, as broadcast by Sky News.

Truss went on to say that she would stay in office until her replacement was picked, noting that a new party leader would be voted next week.

The leaders of the UK's opposition parties, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats, have called for an emergency general election following Prime Minister Liz Truss' resignation, according to Sky News.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer stated that a general election is needed "now now," while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said that "the Conservatives [need to be] out of power and... [Britains] need real change."