Russian intelligence alleges UK aims to disrupt US-Russia talks seen as a threat to London’s strategy of “containing” Moscow.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Agency (SVR) claims the UK is actively working to undermine President Trump’s efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Since taking office in January, Trump has been trying to improve relations with Russia. Recent high-level discussions in Riyadh represented the first diplomatic contact between the two superpowers since Washington severed ties in 2022, following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
In a statement released to RT on Monday, the SVR stated that British officials consider US-Russia negotiations a danger to their strategy of “containing” Russia by maintaining control over Ukraine. The agency further asserted that London fears losing this influence could hinder their plans to establish an anti-Russia “cordon of buffer states” in Europe and impose a naval blockade.
The SVR also stated that British officials are unhappy with Trump for “engaging with Russia as a superpower while showing disregard for “closest allies.”
The agency cited an incident during Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent visit to Washington, where he reportedly sought assurances for Ukraine’s security in any ceasefire agreement. Trump allegedly questioned whether the UK could stand against Russia alone during a joint press conference, a remark that reportedly made Starmer uneasy.
The SVR alleges that British authorities have made it a priority to sabotage US-led peace initiatives concerning Ukraine. The agency stated that UK media outlets and NGOs have been tasked with portraying Trump in a negative light, depicting him as someone “with a poor track record in peacekeeping, vulnerable to Kremlin manipulation.”
American and Ukrainian negotiators are scheduled to meet in Saudi Arabia this week, following a tense exchange between Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky at the White House in late February. The meeting, initially intended to finalize an agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals, became heated. Trump accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III” by refusing to engage in peace talks with Russia, leading to the deal being abruptly suspended.
The SVR claims that the Starmer government intends to bolster Kiev’s resistance to US pressure by increasing arms supplies. However, it alleges that British politicians privately acknowledge that these plans may not be feasible without continued American support.
Moscow has strongly opposed the deployment of Western troops to Ukraine, warning that they would be considered legitimate targets without a UN mandate. The Russian Foreign Ministry has also accused the UK and the EU of pursuing “on a path of militarism.”
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