Kremlin labels UK a key supporter of Ukraine conflict
The Kremlin has branded Britain a leading force among nations seeking to prolong the Ukraine conflict and obstruct a peaceful settlement brokered by the US.
The comments by spokesman Dmitry Peskov come after US President Donald Trump’s visit to London last week, during which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for more pressure on Russia.
”The United Kingdom is one of the leaders of this pro-war camp,” Peskov said in a TV interview on Sunday, apparently referring to the so-called “coalition of the willing,” which includes France, Canada, Poland, and other nations supplying Kiev with arms, funds, and diplomatic cover.
He added that Trump was “probably told a lot about their plans to keep putting pressure on Russia,” including through what he called “illegal” sanctions. Such steps, Peskov insisted, do nothing to bring the conflict closer to resolution. Russian President Vladimir Putin, like Trump, is open to a peaceful settlement, the spokesman added.
The UK has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest backers since the conflict escalated in February 2022.
Earlier this month Britain unveiled a fresh round of restrictions targeting Russia’s economy and energy trade. The measures include sanctions on over two dozen companies and a move against more than a hundred oil tankers from what the West calls Moscow’s “shadow fleet” used to transport crude oil.
Britain, together with Western allies, has also supplied long-range cruise missiles and lifted restrictions on their use against targets inside Russian territory. Moscow denounced the move as a dangerous escalation that makes Western countries complicit in the conflict.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly played a significant role in scuttling early peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, opposing a proposed settlement deal and encouraging Kiev to pursue a military path instead.
