Ukraine conflict: Rishi Sunak is taking identical ‘militaristic line’ as Boris Johnson, Russian ambassador to UK warns

Rishi Sunak is taking the identical “militaristic line” as Boris Johnson and must be doing extra to assist result in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia’s ambassador to the UK has advised Sky News.

Andrei Kelin additionally repeated claims from Russian President Vladimir Putin that between 25% and 30% of the weapons provided 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 frequently held calls with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Their conversations usually opened with Mr Zelenskyy studying out a “shopping list” of arms, three UK officers with information of the matter advised Reuters.

Putin boasts of ‘nuclear triad’ in speech – Ukraine war live updates

The UK has provided weapons together with a number of launch rocket programs, anti-ship missiles and armoured automobiles.

Asked by Sky’s Mark Austin whether or not he was glad Mr Johnson is not prime minister, Mr Kelin stated: “Rishi Sunak is continuous 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 reviews Russia has been utilizing Iranian-supplied drones – with Sky News having seen a purported arms contract that provided the primary onerous proof Tehran has bought ammunition to Moscow for its conflict in Ukraine.

The ambassador denied Russia has been receiving drones from Iran, and stated 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 precipitated devastating flooding within the southern Ukrainian metropolis.

Russia and Ukraine have since blamed one another for the collapse of the dam.

Mr Kelin stated: “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 printed in The Washington Post I believe in December of final 12 months.”

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Asked in regards to the $350bn (£274bn) in frozen property it’s thought the UK and the West plan to make use of to rebuild Ukraine, Mr Kelin stated: “I know the United Kingdom is very experienced in the theft of money from different countries.

“India has been robbed and Egypt, different nations 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 legislation 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.