The Ukraine Crisis, NATO, and a Multipolar World: A Strong Message from the Russian Ambassador in London

Kathmandu / London — Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin, in an interview with Channel 4 presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy on February 4, 2026, expressed clear and firm views on the Ukraine war, the role of NATO, Western diplomacy, and the emerging multipolar structure of global politics. In the interview, he emphasized Russia’s security “red lines,” voiced dissatisfaction with Western countries, and outlined what he described as a framework for a long-term solution.

According to Ambassador Kelin, the deployment of troops from any NATO member state on Ukrainian territory would be completely unacceptable to Russia. He described such a move as another direct attack against Russia and warned that it would pose serious risks not only to regional but also to international security. Stressing that Russia would make no compromises on its border security, he argued that NATO’s expansionist policies have only deepened the crisis.

In the interview, he noted that a lasting solution to the Ukraine crisis can be achieved not through military means but only through diplomacy. In his view, genuine security guarantees lie in balanced relations between Russia and the United States, as well as trust-based cooperation between Russia and European countries, including the United Kingdom. He argued that a security architecture without dialogue and mutual respect cannot be sustainable.

Ambassador Kelin expressed particular dissatisfaction with the role of London. According to him, in the UK there is a prevailing mindset of prolonging the war rather than pursuing diplomatic initiatives on Ukraine. He accused the British leadership of encouraging the Ukrainian side to continue fighting instead of prioritizing negotiations and resolution, a stance he said is directly aimed at causing harm to Russia.

Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive political settlement involving all parties to the Ukraine crisis, he stated that such an agreement must ensure that no form of security threat to Russia arises in the future from Ukraine or NATO. In his view, unilateral decisions and military pressure do not solve problems but instead generate greater instability.

Toward the end of the interview, Ambassador Kelin drew attention to structural changes taking place in global politics. He said the world is moving away from a unipolar order toward a multipolar direction, in which not only major powers such as Russia, China, or the United States, but also small and medium-sized countries must have their roles and interests respected. He maintained that understanding the concerns of all countries, upholding mutual respect, and avoiding confrontation should form the foundation of the new world order.

Overall, the interview conveyed the message that the Ukraine war is not merely a regional conflict, but an issue deeply intertwined with the global balance of power, security architecture, and the future of international diplomacy.