Moscow weighs in on London’s obsession with Ukraine — RT Russia & Former Soviet Union

The UK is “obsessed” with Ukraine, which is sucking up huge quantities of British and EU cash that might’ve been used for their very own home wants, Russia’s Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin advised RT in an interview on Wednesday.

Kelin additionally unloaded on the US, which he says is now utilizing sanctions and intimidation as a substitute of diplomacy, accusing each Washington and London of being behind the dismal state of relations between Russia and the West.

The ambassador advised RT he regrets that London-Moscow relations have deteriorated a lot within the wake of the Ukraine disaster. Kelin, nonetheless, says he doesn’t see a lot logic within the British obsession with Kiev.

“I actually don’t perceive why the UK is a lot targeting Ukraine, on necessity to assist Ukraine. Ukraine is consuming cash from France, Britain, the European Union, the World Financial institution… That is billions and billions of {dollars} which will be spent with way more effectivity, in nowadays particularly,” Kelin famous.

Commenting on the state of relations between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO) over Ukraine, the ambassador accused the navy bloc of breaking agreements beforehand reached with Moscow. Particularly, by rising its navy presence in Japanese Europe, NATO is violating the 1997 Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Safety, Kelin mentioned. Signed by NATO and Russia in Paris, the doc forbids the bloc from stationing nuclear weapons or everlasting navy forces in its new member states. It additionally outlined the framework for NATO-Russia dialogue, which was delivered to a close to halt after the 2014 occasions in Ukraine.

Kelin believes the US and the UK are the chief driving forces behind the elevated tensions between the collective West and Russia. Arguing that Washington has apparently “forgotten that there’s diplomacy,” Kelin mentioned the US now makes use of “sanctions, strain, intimidation, ultimatums” as its principal weapons. Moscow, nonetheless, won’t tolerate strain, the ambassador harassed.

“We after all by no means can be versatile on sanctions. If they are going to be imposed, we’ll return them, we’ll reply on equal foundation,” Kelin warned, including that EU sanctions solely contributed to Russia’s elevated resilience.

Any try and divert public consideration from home issues to the ‘Russian risk’ are deeply dangerous for European safety, the ambassador mentioned, suggesting that some international locations are utilizing the confrontation for political acquire. He believes a dialogue is required for reaching actual, tangible ends in relations with Russia.

“We want peaceable, regular coexistence… We want actual cooperation, actual partnership and regular relationship,” Kelin mentioned.

Over the previous couple of months, the West has repeatedly accused Russia of planning to invade Ukraine, although Moscow categorically denies this declare. Allegations of an imminent assault have additionally been downplayed by Kiev. In an try and de-escalate the tensions, Russia has introduced the US and NATO with quite a lot of proposals on safety ensures. The bloc has rejected Moscow’s key proposals, nonetheless, together with placing an finish to NATO’s gradual enlargement eastward.