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Ambassador sees no ground for Britain to cut diplomatic relations with Russia

"Our countries are not at the state of war, and London itself emphasizes interest in keeping diplomatic channels and embassies open," Andrey Kelin noted

Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin Yury Mikhailenko/TASS

Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin

© Yury Mikhailenko/TASS

LONDON, March 7. /TASS/. Great Britain has no reasons to sever diplomatic ties with Russia, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin told TASS, commenting on recent statements by British parliamentarians regarding this issue.

"There is no ground for such a radical step. Our countries are not at the state of war, and London itself emphasizes interest in keeping diplomatic channels and embassies open. Therefore, as a rule, such calls come from incompetent politicians who are trying to score political points in the anti-Russian field," the Russian diplomat said.

At a House of Commons debate on the death of Alexey Navalny on February 19, former Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities Jacob Rees-Mogg asked if any advantages remained in maintaining diplomatic relations with Russia. British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe Leo Docherty said the benefit was to deliver London’s messages to Russia and to continue to advocate for consular access for British citizens jailed in Russia.

In turn, Conservative Tobias Ellwood suggested expelling Kelin from the United Kingdom while leaving diplomatic channels open. Docherty refused to comment on that proposal.

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Foreign policy United Kingdom

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