Russia accuses UK of escalating Ukraine conflict with missile supplies

Russian officials have sharply criticized Britain for supplying Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, accusing London of deliberately escalating the ongoing conflict. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asserted on Friday that Britain has consistently worked to obstruct peace efforts since the conflict's inception, characterizing the missile deliveries as provocative actions.

Consistent Pattern of Escalation

Zakharova maintained that Britain's position has remained unchanged throughout the conflict, stating "we understand perfectly well what they are doing. They are escalating the conflict. That's all they need in the context of Ukraine." The comments follow media reports indicating Britain supplied the missiles as US President Donald Trump expressed hesitation about providing American Tomahawk systems to Ukrainian forces.

US Position on Weapons Transfers

The Russian criticism emerges amid conflicting signals from Washington regarding long-range weaponry for Ukraine. While President Trump stated on November 3 that he was "not really" considering transferring Tomahawks to Ukraine, the Pentagon had reportedly approved such deliveries in late October, notifying the White House they would not damage American arsenals despite Trump's previous reservations about depleting US stocks.

Ukrainian Negotiations Continue

Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olha Stefanishyna confirmed on Friday that negotiations with Washington regarding the purchase of Tomahawk cruise missiles and other long-range weapons remain ongoing. She reported "positive developments" in the talks and noted multiple Ukrainian delegations are working to secure additional financial resources for enhanced military capabilities from the United States.