Russia's Foreign Ministry has escalated tensions by designating the United Kingdom as a "party to the conflict" and issuing a stark warning of potential targeting of British military sites and

equipment, both in Ukraine and beyond. This declaration comes in response to remarks made by Britain's Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, during an interview with Reuters, where he suggested that Ukraine could utilize British weaponry to strike targets within Russia.

On May 6, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the British Ambassador in Moscow, Nigel Casey, to convey a "firm protest," asserting that Cameron's statements imply Britain's direct involvement in the conflict, according to a release from the Russian ministry.

"The Ambassador was informed that Cameron's remarks are interpreted as evidence of a significant escalation and confirmation of London's heightened military engagement on the side of Kyiv. He was cautioned that any Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using British weapons could result in retaliatory actions against British military assets and equipment in Ukraine, and potentially elsewhere," stated Russia's Foreign Ministry. The ministry demanded an "immediate, unequivocal, and robust refutation" of Cameron's "militant provocative statements."

On the same day, Vladimir Putin instructed the Russian Defence Ministry to conduct exercises involving tactical nuclear forces in response to what was described as "provocative statements and threats" against the Russian Federation. Photo by NVO, Wikimedia commons.