UK‑Russia tensions escalate: London's weapon aid to Kyiv prompts Moscow's nuclear threats

Tensions flared between London and Moscow due to British approval for the use of weapons supplied by them for attacks on Russian territory. Putin announces retaliation and once again threatens to resort to nuclear weapons.

With its aid package, London waited for the United States to act. After months of delay, the British sprang into action when the Americans finally pushed through the House of Representatives over $60 billion (£49 billion) in support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK will provide weapons worth £510 million. This marks the largest support his country has provided Ukraine since the full-scale war outbreak.

The Ukrainians are to receive, among other things, 400 combat vehicles of various types, over 1600 missile projectiles and air defence missiles, and Storm Shadow air-to-surface missiles with a range of about 250 km. Sunak stated that "defending Ukraine against Russia's brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border".

However, it wasn't just the aid for Kyiv that enraged the Kremlin. Foreign Minister David Cameron further raised the temperature, stating that Ukraine had the right to use British weapons to strike Russia.

It didn't take long for the Russian Foreign Ministry to respond - the ministry declared that Cameron's statement acknowledged that London is currently a party to the conflict. The British ambassador was summoned to the ministry. He was warned that "Any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and beyond could be a response to Ukrainian strikes with the use of British weapons on the territory of Russia".

In turn, the Russian Ministry of Defence added that in response to the provocative statements and threats of some Western officials against the Russian Federation, the Russian army would conduct exercises with tactical nuclear weapons, which are to "unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state". Putin had the last word. He ritually reiterated that the country is ready to wage nuclear war and regularly conducts strategic nuclear exercises, which typically involve intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Such threats are not new. They appeared when Russia was not doing well enough on the front. The Kremlin resorted to the nuclear scare tactic in March 2022, shortly after retreating from Kyiv. Alongside Putin, the "regular threatener" is Dmitry Medvedev, Vice Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

Nuclear attacks on Ukraine and its allied states were threatened, among others, in February. The reason was supposed to be the Kremlin's loss of occupied territories, which Russia considers an integral part of itself. Previous threats were related to providing aid to the Ukrainian army. We were told that because of this, Russia "will attack with nuclear weapons" in January, March, and June last year, and two years ago in August, September, and October. Medvedev also became active this time, sharply reacting to Cameron's words.

Because of their number, Medvedev's tirades are making less and less of an impression.