Russia Says It Has No Plans to Downgrade Diplomatic Relations with UK

Dragon Media News Desk

Russia has clarified that it has no plans to downgrade the level of diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. The statement came after reports suggested that Moscow might be considering such a step following the conclusion of Andrei Kelin’s diplomatic mission as Russian ambassador to Britain.

The British newspaper The Times had presented the end of Kelin’s tenure and the absence of an immediately announced successor as a possible indication that Russia could reduce the level of its diplomatic representation in London.

Responding to the report, the Russian Embassy in London said nothing in the comment it had provided to the newspaper implied that Moscow intended to downgrade diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to the Embassy, such conclusions were drawn solely by the author of the article and were based on suggestions from unnamed sources. The Russian side stressed that these interpretations should not be regarded as Moscow’s official position.

At the same time, the Embassy acknowledged that relations between Moscow and London have deteriorated sharply. It described Russia–UK relations across political, security and other areas as having fallen to an “unprecedentedly low level,” while placing responsibility for the deterioration on policies pursued by London.

Relations between Russia and Britain have worsened significantly, particularly since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. London has provided Ukraine with extensive military, financial and political support, while Moscow has repeatedly accused Britain of becoming increasingly deeply involved in the confrontation.

Kelin had served as Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom since 2019. With his diplomatic mission now concluded and a successor yet to be publicly announced, the Embassy is operating under interim diplomatic leadership.

Moscow, however, has made clear that the absence of an immediate replacement should not be interpreted as a formal decision to reduce the level of diplomatic relations.

The latest clarification indicates that despite the severe political confrontation between Russia and the United Kingdom, Moscow is not, at present, signalling an intention to further weaken the formal diplomatic framework between the two countries.