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14.52BST
Russia states British military facilities could be targeted after Cameron remarks
Russia warned Britain on Monday that if British weapons were used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory then Moscow could hit back at British military installations and equipment both inside Ukraine and elsewhere.
British Ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned to the foreign ministry for a formal protest after Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Ukraine had the right to use British weapons to strike Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the Cameron remarks recognised that Britain was now de-facto a part of the conflict.
“Casey was warned that in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with British weapons, any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and abroad could be targeted,” the foreign ministry said.
“The Ambassador was called upon to reflect on the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps by London and immediately refute the belligerent provocative statements of the head of the Foreign Office in the most decisive and unambiguous way.”
Cameron, during a visit to Kyiv, told Reuters last week that Ukraine had a right to use the weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia, and that it was up to Kyiv whether to do so.
“Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” Cameron told Reuters outside St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Key events
20h ago16.24BST
Russia’s foreign ministry has commented further on the tactical nuclear weapons drills, according to Reuters. It reported the ministry saying it was hoped they would cool down “hotheads” in the west who Moscow said were pushing for a direct military confrontation between Nato and Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry mentioned remarks by the British foreign secretary, David Cameron, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the delivery of US ATACMS long-ranges missiles to Ukraine.
“They are deliberately leading the situation towards a further escalation of the Ukrainian crisis towards an open military clash between Nato countries and Russia,” the foreign ministry said.
Russia said on Monday it would practise the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons as part of a military exercise after what the Moscow said were threats from France, Britain and the United States.
“We hope that this event will cool down the ‘hotheads’ in western capitals,” the foreign ministry said.
20h ago16.13BST
Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, said Russia’s planned nuclear drills “contribute to increasing instability”.
“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions may be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT.
The drills were announced on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration to a fifth term in office and in a week when Moscow on Thursday will celebrate Victory Day, its most important secular holiday, marking its defeat of Nazi Germany in the second world war.
20h ago15.48BST
Here is a summary of today's developments so far:
Russia warned Britain on Monday that if British weapons were used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory then Moscow could hit back at British military installations and equipment both inside Ukraine and elsewhere.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China had all along been working “vigorously” to facilitate talks for peace in Ukraine, according to Chinese state media.
Russia’s tactical nuclear weapon drills are a response to statements from the West about sending troops to Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Monday.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry called on Kyiv’s international allies not to recognise Vladimir Putin as Russia’s legitimate president.
The first Olympian to die in the war in Ukraine has been announced. The weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who finished fourth in the 85kg light-heavyweight category at the Rio Games in 2016, was killed defending his country on Sunday.
20h ago15.40BST
The first Olympian to die in the war in Ukraine has been announced. The weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who finished fourth in the 85kg light-heavyweight category at the Rio Games in 2016, was killed defending his country on Sunday.
The news was confirmed by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, who said Pielieshenko died during combat operations.
You can read more about his career and tributes from the weightlifting community here:
21h ago15.20BST
One man was killed on Monday in a Ukrainian attack on the village of Nikolskoye in Russia’s Belgorod region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on his Telegram channel.
21h ago14.52BST
Russia states British military facilities could be targeted after Cameron remarks
Russia warned Britain on Monday that if British weapons were used by Ukraine to strike Russian territory then Moscow could hit back at British military installations and equipment both inside Ukraine and elsewhere.
British Ambassador Nigel Casey was summoned to the foreign ministry for a formal protest after Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Ukraine had the right to use British weapons to strike Russia.
Russia’s foreign ministry said the Cameron remarks recognised that Britain was now de-facto a part of the conflict.
“Casey was warned that in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with British weapons, any British military facilities and equipment on the territory of Ukraine and abroad could be targeted,” the foreign ministry said.
“The Ambassador was called upon to reflect on the inevitable catastrophic consequences of such hostile steps by London and immediately refute the belligerent provocative statements of the head of the Foreign Office in the most decisive and unambiguous way.”
Cameron, during a visit to Kyiv, told Reuters last week that Ukraine had a right to use the weapons provided by London to strike targets inside Russia, and that it was up to Kyiv whether to do so.
“Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself,” Cameron told Reuters outside St. Michael’s Cathedral.
22h ago14.28BST
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China had all along been working “vigorously” to facilitate talks for peace in Ukraine, according to Chinese state media.
China did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor was it a party to it, Xi told French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a trilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
22h ago14.06BST
Ukraine calls on allies not to recognise Putin as Russia's 'legitimate president'
Ukraine’s foreign ministry called on Kyiv’s international allies not to recognise Vladimir Putin as Russia’s legitimate president.
“Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognising him as a democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation,” the ministry said in a statement, published ahead of Putin’s inauguration on Tuesday.
22h ago13.36BST
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says China’s President has “important role” to play in de-escalating tensions over nuclear threats made by Russia.
Von der Leyen was part of trilateral talks between her, French President Emmanuel Macron and Xi Jinping at a summit in Paris on Monday.
She pressed Xi Jinping to use Beijing’s influence to halt the Russian war against Ukraine, also telling the Chinese leader to accept fair global trade rules.
Von der Leyen also said she was “confident” Xi Jinping would continue to play an “important role” in de-escalating tensions over nuclear threats made by Russia, hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered nuclear weapons drills involving troops based near Ukraine.
Both Macron and von der Leyen have indicated that trade was a priority in the talks, underscoring that Europe must defend its “strategic interests” in its economic relations with China.
23h ago13.08BST
Associated Press have some more information on the planned drills. It says it was the first time that Russia has publicly announced drills involving tactical nuclear weapons, though its strategic nuclear forces regularly hold exercises.
Tactical nuclear weapons include air bombs, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery munitions and are meant for use on a battlefield. They are less powerful than the massive warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are intended to obliterate entire cities.
The Russian announcement appeared to be a warning to Ukraine’s western allies about becoming more deeply involved in the more than two-year war.
French President Emmanuel Macron repeated last week that he doesn’t exclude sending troops to Ukraine, and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kyiv’s forces will be able to use British long-range weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council that’s chaired by President Vladimir Putin, said in his typically hawkish fashion that the comments by Macron and Cameron risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.”
The Russian defence ministry said the exercise is intended to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear forces to fulfil combat tasks” and will be held on Putin’s orders. The manoeuvres will involve missile units of the Southern Military District along with the air force and the navy, it said.
