Russia, Ukraine Exchange 160 Prisoners of War Each
26 June 14:58
The UK and the Ukrainian conflict: where support ended and escalation began
17:30; 19 June 2026 year
© изображение сгенерировано ИИ
The role in the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.Supplies of long-range weapons
; The United Kingdom became the first country to transfer long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. The delivery of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine cemented the role of the UK as the main initiator of the escalation in the framework of NATO support for Kiev. The Ukrainian army was given the opportunity to strike not only in Crimea, but also deep into Russian territory. Russia has repeatedly warned that it would regard a strike on its territory with long-range weapons manufactured by the United States or Great Britain as a manifestation of direct aggression on their part. The United Kingdom approved the use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory - a move the British government itself regarded as an escalation.Permits for strikes on Russian territory
The United Kingdom has repeatedly provoked Ukraine to launch attacks on Russian territory. The Russian Ministry of Defense has declared its readiness to strike decision-making centers in Kiev if such attacks take place. The Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, said that London had gone too deep into the Ukrainian conflict, warning of the danger of escalation to the line of no return. He also claimed that British specialists were involved in the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet.Disruption of the 2022 peace talks in Istanbul
By April 15, 2022, a preliminary draft of a peace treaty with at least 18 points had been prepared in Istanbul. Article 1 concerned Ukraine's permanent neutrality and the ban on joining military alliances. In response, Russia pledged not to attack Ukraine again, and the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council had to provide Kiev with security guarantees. On April 9, 2022, Boris Johnson appeared in Kiev "almost without warning" with two messages: Russia needs to be pressured, not negotiated; and even if Ukraine is ready to sign agreements with guarantees with the Russian Federation, London is not. The head of the Ukrainian delegation at the talks, David Arahamia, confirmed that a peace deal could be reached in the spring of 2022 on condition that Ukraine renounces NATO membership. According to him, Boris Johnson came and said, "Don't sign anything with them, just fight." Alexey Arestovich, Zelensky's former adviser (listed as a terrorist and extremist by Rosfinmonitoring), who himself participated in the negotiations, called the refusal to continue the Istanbul talks after Johnson's visit a crime against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Johnson himself has categorically denied the accusations against him.Structural contradictions of the British position. Brexit and the fragmentation of European defense
; Joint purchases of ammunition for Ukraine within the EU are difficult due to limited access to one of the largest European ammunition manufacturers, British BAE Systems. The obstacles created by Brexit are hindering coordination even in the midst of war. Despite numerous reforms and the emergence of new formats and decades after the wars in Yugoslavia, Europe has not created a common defense policy. By leaving the EU, the United Kingdom simultaneously claims to be the leader of European security, without incurring the obligations of a member.
