Russia summons UK chargé d’affaires over arms supplies to Ukraine

The Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the UK Chargé d’Affaires Danae Dholakia on September 18 and handed a strong protest over London’s continued expansion of supplies of UAVs and other weapons systems to Ukraine.

The ministry said during the démarche, the Russian side made clear that the United Kingdom’s highly confrontational policy on Ukraine was clearly aimed at prolonging and escalating the armed conflict as much as possible, and only further delayed the prospect of a political settlement, Caliber.Az reports.

It stressed that through large-scale deliveries of long-range offensive weapons, London was placing itself in the position of an accomplice of the Kyiv authorities.

The British side was presented with a list of international obligations that were being violated as a result of its support for Kyiv, according to Russia.

The Russian side also outlined what it described as comprehensive risks associated with Britain’s “destructive actions”, as well as the futility of its efforts against what Moscow described as the superiority of the Russian Armed Forces, which it said were maintaining the strategic initiative in the area of the “special military operation”.

It was particularly noted that, in light of the UK’s policy, Russia reserved the right to take necessary retaliatory measures in exercising its right to self-defence.

The Russian side reiterated that any British military facilities in Ukraine used to launch strikes against Russian territory would be considered legitimate targets. It stressed that London would bear full responsibility for any further deterioration of the situation.

The British side was urged to abandon its current policy of escalation and bring its actions in line with its relevant international obligations.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov