Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Russia reached a new crisis on Thursday (July 20), with the Kremlin reportedly criticizing Britain’s Chargé d’affairs over UK support for Ukrainian rebels, and announcing new restrictions on the travel of British diplomats to Russian territory.
Since President Vladimir Putin began his military operation in Ukraine, the UK has provided Kyiv with billions of dollars in military aid, and – along with the US and its Western partners – imposed heavy economic sanctions.
Reuters he said:
“Russia on Thursday imposed a Soviet-style ban on British diplomats, requiring them to give at least five days’ notice of any move beyond 120 kilometers (75 miles), over what it described as ‘hostile’ actions by London.”
Britain is one of the Western leaders providing weapons to Ukraine against Russian forces.
“British officials in Russia were criticized at a Foreign Ministry meeting in Moscow on Thursday for what Moscow said was its support for ‘terrorists’ in Ukraine and for obstructing Russia’s dialogue with Britain.
“The British community was also informed of the decision to establish a public awareness system for the movement of the British embassy in the territory of our country following the action taken by London,” the ministry said.
The measures announced are the most difficult since Soviet times, which speak of a new ‘cold war’ triggered by the divisions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
Tom Dodd, the British interim charge d’affaires in Moscow, was summoned to the Russian embassy, and learned that this had happened. ‘based on London’s hate agenda’.
The price of TASS he said:
“‘The British side was informed of this decision, as a way of responding to London’s actions, including those that prevent Russian foreign activities in the UK, to establish a system of informing the visits of British ministers in our country’, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia said.
Russia’s diplomatic corps explained that it has now accepted staff at the UK embassy in Moscow […] They must send notices of any journey exceeding 120-kilometer free of charge at least five days in advance. ‘The proper document must contain information on the dates, purpose and type of the trip, as well as the business activities planned, the people accompanying them, the type of transport used, the destination, the accommodation, and the itinerary’, he said.
Dodd was also told about ‘London’s illegal support of the Kiev government’s terrorists’.
“‘It was also said on the British side that every effort they made was intended to continue [London’s] Destructive policies in international and international affairs, as well as attempts to destroy our country and hinder the activities of foreign countries of Russia will undoubtedly respond positively, “said the Russian organization.”
Only the British embassy and three ambassadors are not allowed to give five working days’ written notice of any plans to travel beyond the 120-km ‘free movement zone’.
BBC he said:
“The Vienna Convention – to which the UK and Russia are both signatories – makes it clear that governments must grant diplomatic missions ‘freedom of movement and freedom of movement within its territory’.
So governments don’t usually stop diplomats from traveling – but they can make it more difficult by imposing laws and regulations, as the Russian government has done.
The demands of the authorities are time-consuming and difficult but are contained in the letter of the Vienna Convention. “