Moscow rules out idea of normalising Russian-British relations

Director of the Second European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Sergei Belyaev said that Russian-British relations are currently experiencing one of the deepest crises in history.

According to him, there is no possibility to normalise cooperation between the two countries yet, Kommersant reports.

Sergei Belyaev believes that for many years the British authorities have been implementing "a consistent course to inflict irreparable damage, destroying the fabric of bilateral cooperation".

As an example, the diplomat named the British side's version of the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, as well as ex-FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London.

In addition, according to Sergei Belyaev, the British authorities continue to support Ukraine, including supplies of military equipment and training of the Ukrainian military.

"Under these circumstances, there is no reason to talk about the possibility of any normalisation in Russian-British relations. It is obvious that London intends to continue adhering to a confrontational model of behaviour in bilateral affairs," he concluded.