Rishi Sunak is taking the identical “militaristic line” as Boris Johnson and needs to be doing extra to assist result in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia’s ambassador to the UK has instructed Sky News.
Andrei Kelin additionally repeated claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin that between 25% and 30% of the weapons equipped to Ukraine by Western nations have been destroyed.
Mr Johnson made Britain one of many main supporters of Ukraine throughout his time as prime minister and repeatedly held calls with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Their conversations usually opened with Mr Zelenskyy studying out a “shopping list” of arms, three UK officers with data of the matter instructed Reuters.
Putin boasts of ‘nuclear triad’ in speech – Ukraine battle dwell updates
The UK has equipped weapons together with a number of launch rocket techniques, anti-ship missiles and armoured automobiles.
Asked by Sky’s Mark Austin whether or not he was glad Mr Johnson is now not prime minister, Mr Kelin mentioned: “Rishi Sunak is constant a militaristic line. I’ve by no means heard from him the phrase ‘negotiations’.
“I never heard from him the word that the future belongs to European security, inclusive European security for all countries, not just for NATO. But for all countries.”
Mr Kelin was additionally requested about experiences Russia has been utilizing Iranian-supplied drones – with Sky News having seen a purported arms contract that supplied the primary arduous proof Tehran has bought ammunition to Moscow for its battle in Ukraine.
The ambassador denied Russia has been receiving drones from Iran, and mentioned he had by no means seen such a contract.
“No one has real evidence about Iranian drones. There were two meetings between Ukrainians and Iranians that we are aware of … Ukrainians were not able to provide any evidence those drones belong to Iran.”
Mr Kelin was additionally requested in regards to the destruction of the dam in Nova Kakhovka that brought on devastating flooding within the southern Ukrainian metropolis.
Russia and Ukraine have since blamed one another for the collapse of the dam.
Mr Kelin mentioned: “A year ago one of the major generals of Ukraine said that they are going to blow up the dam to prevent a Russian offensive.
“It was revealed in The Washington Post I feel in December of final yr.”
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Boris Johnson, left, and Rishi Sunak. Pic: AP
Asked in regards to the $350bn (£274bn) in frozen belongings it’s thought the UK and the West plan to make use of to rebuild Ukraine, Mr Kelin mentioned: “I know the United Kingdom is very experienced in the theft of money from different countries.
“India has been robbed and Egypt, different international locations as effectively. So after all it is one other account of theft and theft.”
Mr Kelin also said Russia is “ready for talks or negotiations” but said Mr Zelenskyy has “prohibited himself by regulation to barter”.
“How can we negotiate?” he said.
Mr Kelin spoke to Sky News as Mr Putin said Russia’s new generation of Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, which are capable of carrying 10 or more nuclear warheads, would soon be deployed for combat duty.
In a speech to new graduates of military academies, the president stressed the importance of Russia’s “triad” of nuclear forces that may be launched from land, sea or air.
Content Source: information.sky.com