Russia has intensified its rhetoric against the United Kingdom, placing London at the center of an international conflict. As Donald Trump attempts to establish dialogue with Moscow and find ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Britain has suddenly been designated as Russia’s primary adversary. A diplomatic crisis, espionage accusations, and harsh statements from Russian authorities mark the latest chapter in a long-standing geopolitical rivalry.
Diplomatic Scandal: Espionage and Mutual Accusations
Russia has expelled two British diplomats, accusing them of espionage. As Reuters reports, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a scathing statement calling Britain a “warmonger.” In response, London took reciprocal action, expelling a Russian diplomat and their spouse.
“London today, just like on the eve of both world wars of the last century, acts as the main global instigator,” SVR declared, accusing Britain of trying to derail Trump’s diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. The statement also revived the historical term “Perfidious Albion,” emphasizing Britain’s alleged persistent hostility toward Russia.
Russia’s New Main Enemy?
Until recently, Moscow viewed the United States as its primary adversary, but the situation is changing rapidly. According to Reuters sources, Russian officials now consider Britain the main threat, blaming it for escalating the conflict and organizing an anti-Russian coalition.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has particularly angered Moscow. His statements about potentially deploying British troops and aircraft to Ukraine as peacekeepers provoked a strong reaction from Russian politicians. Additionally, his active lobbying of Trump to continue supporting Ukraine has heightened tensions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Starmer of inflaming the conflict at a time when Trump is trying to calm it.
A Long History of Suspicion
Anti-British sentiments in Russia are not new. Russian political rhetoric has long used the phrase “The Englishwoman relieves herself” to imply Britain’s continuous efforts to undermine Russia, a sentiment dating back to the 19th century. Historical conflicts, such as the Crimean War (1853–1856) and Britain’s role in both World Wars, continue to shape Russia’s official narrative.
More recent accusations include a series of incidents, such as the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the 2018 Skripal poisoning with the Novichok nerve agent. Russia has denied involvement in these cases, but they have further deteriorated diplomatic relations.
Russian authorities have also accused Britain—without providing evidence—of assisting Ukraine in sabotage operations on Russian territory, including the 2023 explosion on the Crimean Bridge.
The Economic Factor: Sanctions and Countermeasures
Anti-Russian sanctions have led to a sharp decline in trade between Britain and Russia. According to UK government data, trade volumes have dropped from £16 billion in 2021 to just £2 billion in 2023. British oil giant BP suffered losses exceeding $20 billion due to its exit from the Russian market.
Despite this, some British companies, such as pharmaceutical giants AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, continue to operate in Russia.
Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the Russian State Duma, has called for the seizure of frozen Russian assets in Britain, valued at approximately $26 billion, as part of Moscow’s retaliatory measures. Russian lawmakers are also considering making it more difficult for British businesses to return to the Russian market, even if Western sanctions are eased in the future.
“The British Locomotive” in Ukraine Support
According to Russian officials, London plays a leading role in military aid to Ukraine. As Reuters notes, Britain was the first Western country to pledge battle tanks to Ukraine and to deliver long-range missiles—decisions that deeply angered Moscow.
Pro-government Russian media emphasize that Britain is “pulling others along” in increasing support for Kyiv. Russian lawmaker Andrei Gurulyov stated that Britain’s involvement in supplying Ukraine with missiles capable of striking Russian territory is reason enough for Britain to “cease to exist.”
At the same time, Russian state television has highlighted the shrinking state of the British military. Russia 1 TV host Yevgeny Kiselyov recently joked that “the entire British army could fit into London’s Wembley Stadium,” referring to its modest size compared to Russia’s military forces.
The rapid deterioration of Russia-UK relations comes at a time when the United States is reassessing its approach to Moscow. Russia continues to use historical rhetoric, accusing Britain of provocations and warmongering. Economic sanctions, diplomatic conflicts, and the ongoing war in Ukraine only exacerbate tensions between the two nations.
As Reuters reports, London remains one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters, while Moscow seeks ways to achieve peace on its own terms. In this context, Britain has once again become Russia’s primary enemy—an escalation that could have long-term consequences for bilateral relations and global geopolitics.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Reuters. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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