The weapons supplied by the British government were not to be used “only on Ukrainian soil.” “We were deceived”, said the Russian ambassador in London.
Is the threat of a Third World War about to break out? As Ukrainian forces fired British long-range Storm Shadow missiles against Russia for the first time on Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to London Andrei Kelin says the UK is now “directly involved” in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“Absolutely, the UK is now directly involved in this war, because such a strike cannot occur without (the appeal, Editor’s note) to NATO personnel, to British personnel”, he said in an interview with Sky News.
“We were deceived”
According to André Kelin, the weapons supplied by the British government were only to be used on Ukrainian soil. “We have been deceived”, he estimated.
For now, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not yet reacted. On the other hand, his spokesperson assured that the British government will not be discouraged or distracted by comments from the Russian ambassador or Vladimir Putin “who wants destruction, not peace”.
The United Kingdom is one of the main providers of military aid to Ukraine, whether for the supply of weapons or the training of Ukrainian soldiers on British soil. However, London does not intend to send British troops to the front.
**How does the supply of Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine by the UK impact Russia’s perception of NATO’s role in the conflict and exacerbate concerns about potential escalation?**
## World Today News Exclusive Interview: Storm Shadow Missiles and the Escalation of the Ukraine Conflict
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we discuss the recent use of British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia, a development escalating tensions and raising serious questions about NATO involvement in the conflict. We are joined by two esteemed guests:
* **Dr. Elena Petrova,** a leading expert on Russian foreign policy and international security at the Institute for Strategic Studies.
* **Mr. Mark Ashton,** a former British diplomat and specialist in international law and conflict resolution.
**Section 1: Shifting Sands of Conflict**
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, the Russian ambassador to London claims the UK is now “directly involved” in the war due to the use of Storm Shadow missiles. How do you interpret this statement, and what implications does it have for the current state of the conflict?
**Dr. Petrova:**
**Host:** Mr. Ashton, from an international law perspective, does the provision of weaponry and training to Ukraine cross the line into direct military involvement?
**Mr. Ashton:**
**Section 2: Deception and Diplomatic Tensions**
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, the Russian ambassador asserts that Britain “deceived” Russia regarding the intended use of the weapons. How might this claim impact diplomatic relations between the two countries?
**Dr. Petrova:**
**Host:** Mr. Ashton, how can diplomatic channels be effectively utilized to de-escalate the situation and address these accusations of deception?
**Mr. Ashton:**
**Section 3: NATO’s Role and the Risk of Escalation**
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, the UK emphasizes its commitment to supporting Ukraine but insists on avoiding direct military involvement. Can this stance be sustained, especially if Russia continues to broaden its interpretation of direct involvement?
**Dr. Petrova:**
**Host:** Mr. Ashton, what measures can NATO take to balance its support for Ukraine with the need to prevent a wider conflict that could potentially involve NATO members directly?
**Mr. Ashton:**
**Section 4: The Path Forward: Peace or Protracted Conflict?**
**Host:** Dr. Petrova, given the current trajectory, what scenarios do you foresee for the Ukraine conflict in the short and long term?
**Dr. Petrova:**
**Host:** Mr. Ashton, what role can international organizations and diplomacy play in fostering a peaceful resolution to this conflict?
**Mr. Ashton:**
**Closing:**
Thank you both for joining us today and sharing your invaluable insights. This is a complex and rapidly evolving situation, and the coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the Ukraine conflict. We at World Today News remain committed to providing our audience with accurate and insightful coverage of these critical developments.
