Lavrov threatens UK with consequences over involvement in Ukraine's strikes on Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has issued a threat against the United Kingdom, saying Russia considers itself entitled to treat Britain's openly declared involvement in missile strikes on Russian territory as participation in the war, with all the consequences that would follow. He made the remarks to the Kremlin-aligned agency Interfax while commenting on a statement by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledging full support for Ukraine.

Lavrov said he "feels sorry for Britain" if it intends to stand by Ukraine "until the very end". Speaking to Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin, he argued that Russia has the right to act in any part of the world's oceans if its interests or property are threatened, and that it can similarly view Britain's declared involvement in strikes on Russia as participation in the war.

Background

Earlier, the Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom stated that reports of Ukraine using British-made drones to strike Russian territory confirm that London is deliberately choosing to escalate the conflict while hypocritically claiming to want peace. The embassy said that the deeper Britain's involvement in the conflict and the greater its support for Kyiv, the higher the price it would pay.

Andy Burnham said London would continue supporting Ukraine as it has so far, and that this approach would not change.