Russian Ambassador to London Says Severing Relations With UK Is Possible

Relations between Russia and the UK, which have already been at a low point due to London's actions over the past eight years, deteriorated even further last month after the country slapped Moscow with a new round of harsh economic sanctions over the special operation in Ukraine. The sanctions affected the Russian central bank and banking industry.

Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin has not ruled out the possibility of Moscow severing diplomatic ties with London over its decision to impose sanctions on Russia over the operation in Ukraine to protect the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).

Kelin noted that if no solution is presented to resolve the issue of the embassy's funding, impeded by the sanctions, the Kremlin might take steps against the British Embassy in Moscow. For now, Russian diplomatic facilities continue to operate, the ambassador added.

"We are working as usual, we are not cancelling anything, consular services are being provided", Kelin said.

The ambassador also said that Russia has not seen the last of the British sanctions, noting that there was a great range of possible measures.

The UK earlier joined its allies in slapping Russia with sanctions over its special operation in Ukraine, which the West calls an "invasion". Moscow has repeatedly rejected the term, saying the operation is being carried out to protect its security, ensure the safety of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), and de-Nazify Ukraine. The Kremlin specifically stressed that it does not plan to seize Ukrainian territory and that its military is not targeting civilian objects in order to avoid casualties.