UK not to change Russia policy under new PM — ambassador

Lead

As Britain prepares to choose a new prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation, Russian officials are openly pessimistic about the prospects for improved relations between the two countries. In interviews with TASS, the head of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, and Russia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrey Kelin, both predicted that London's current approach toward Moscow would persist under the new leadership.

Coverage Comparison

The story was reported exclusively by TASS, Russia's state news agency, which carried comments from two key Russian figures. On June 22, Slutsky told TASS that Britain's "Russophobic policy and support for Kiev will persist despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation." Kelin, in an interview published on July 3, echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the Labour Party had missed its chance to reset relations with Russia and that no significant adjustments were expected.

While both officials drew similar conclusions about the likely continuity of British policy, their comments came from different angles. Slutsky focused on the ideological underpinnings of British policy, framing it as driven by "Anglo-Saxon hegemonic ambitions." Kelin, by contrast, addressed the mechanics of bilateral diplomacy, noting that while embassies remain open, contacts have been reduced to a minimum.

The reports reflect the Kremlin's official perspective on UK-Russia relations, offering a critical assessment of British policy and the Labour government's record.

Key Claims

Slutsky: Policy Continuity Expected

Leonid Slutsky, who also leads the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, stated that "the change of British prime minister will not alter anything for now." He asserted that "the anti-Russian policy and support for the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine will most likely continue, regardless of who moves into 10 Downing Street." Slutsky claimed that London is committed to this stance "to the detriment of the national interests of ordinary Britons."

According to Slutsky, British citizens are weary of the consequences of what he termed "Anglo-Saxon hegemonic ambitions," citing the migration crisis and a general decline in living standards due to what he described as "endless financial injections into the proxy war in Ukraine."

The election for a new leader of Britain's ruling Labour Party is set to begin on July 9, with Starmer not seeking re-election. Candidacies must be submitted before the parliamentary recess in July.

Kelin: Missed Opportunity for Labour

Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin told TASS that the Labour Party "missed its chance to improve relations with Russia two years ago, and the future prime minister is not expected to correct this mistake." He elaborated: "The Labour Party had a chance to make a fresh start when they came to power in 2024, but, unfortunately, they failed to seize it. They continue to pump the Kiev regime with weapons and funds and impose unilateral illegitimate sanctions against our country."

Kelin criticized what he called the Labour Party's "obsession with the anti-Russia agenda," which he said "resembles the worst periods of the Cold War."

On June 22, Starmer, who won the parliamentary elections in July 2024, announced he would be leaving office. So far, the only person to express interest in taking his place is former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who was elected to the House of Commons on June 18. If no other Labour MP does the same, Burnham will become prime minister as early as July 20.

Kelin noted that Burnham "has so far made very few comments on the international agenda," focusing instead on socio-economic issues. He cautioned that it would be "premature to speculate about his foreign policy views, especially since he has not yet been officially appointed prime minister."

According to the ambassador, local experts predict that Burnham's foreign policy team will include "already well-known figures," and he said he would not expect "any serious adjustments to the established policy from them."

Kelin added a broader critique: "Incumbent British politicians, as many people (including US President Donald Trump) say, are a far cry from Winston Churchill. Not without reason, the UK has seen its sixth prime minister in the past 10 years, while the real welfare of the British people is actually declining."

Kelin: Relations in Deep Crisis

In a separate interview, Kelin described UK-Russia relations as being "in a deep crisis" due to London's policies, with no signs of improvement. He stated: "Relations between our countries are in crisis and have effectively been reduced to zero. At the initiative of the British authorities, bilateral contacts have been frozen, even in areas far removed from geopolitics, including culture, education, science, and interregional and interparliamentary cooperation."

However, he acknowledged that diplomatic relations have not been formally severed. According to Kelin, the British authorities "still intend to keep the embassies open and preserve some channels of communication, which are now largely limited to meetings at the Foreign Office." He added that British diplomats in Moscow "also maintain contacts with the Russian Foreign Ministry and meet with representatives of civil society and expert circles."

Kelin insisted that "responsibility for the collapse of bilateral ties lies entirely with the British side," describing it as part of London's policy of containing Russia that began "long before the start of the special military operation." He said that work toward normalizing relations could begin only if the UK authorities "completely abandon their current confrontational policy toward our country," adding: "At present, we see no grounds for such a change."