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Russia has pointedly accused the United Kingdom and France of helping Ukraine to attack its homeland, warning the nations against further direct involvement in the warfare.
On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned British Ambassador Nigel Casey and French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière to protest the recent Ukrainian strike.
Moscow said Ukraine used cruise missiles produced by the Franco-British MBDA for the March 10 assault, which targeted Bryansk, killing seven people and injuring more than 40.
The government told the envoys that the strike would have been “impossible” without the involvement of the British and French specialists, as well as their intelligence.
Moscow said if the UK and France “continue to act as co-perpetrators in the war crimes” by Kyiv, responsibility for the destructive consequences and escalation of tensions will fall directly on them.
Russia called the shelling of Bryansk a “provocation” aimed at undermining the settlement of the Ukraine crisis, urging London and Paris to ditch “inhumane actions undertaken in pursuit of raising their political profile.”
The ministry asked Britain and France to issue a public response with a firm and unequivocal condemnation of the attack, saying refusal to do so will be regarded as “showing solidarity with the terrorist methods.”
Early this month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron agreed to strengthen nuclear cooperation through the Northwood Declaration and at the UK-France Summit.
A statement by the British Cabinet Office declared that London and Paris are both determined to prevent threats against Europe and “will not be intimidated by Russian nuclear rhetoric.”
In January, the UK announced it was developing new tactical ballistic missiles—with a range of more than 500 kilometers—to bolster Ukraine’s firepower to defend itself from “Putin’s war machine.”
