Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said British military facilities and equipment inside and outside Ukraine could be targeted in response to attacks on Russian territory.
At her weekly news conference in Moscow, Zakharova accused France, the United Kingdom and Germany of provoking tensions over Ukraine. She argued that London and Paris were attempting to conceal their responsibility for attacks on Russian territory by transferring certain military systems to Ukraine.
Zakharova said the United Kingdom had been sending Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine since 2023 and alleged that London planned to provide Kyiv with the information needed to produce the missiles.
Zakharova alleged that the Ukrainian army had occasionally used the missiles to attack Russian territory and said British military facilities and equipment located in Ukraine and other countries could be targeted in response to attacks she said were carried out with British weapons. She said those who commit war crimes against civilians would be punished.
Deployment of NATO troops
Arguing that the United Kingdom was taking part in the war in Ukraine, Zakharova called on the government in London to abandon its aggressive approach toward Russia.
Zakharova also assessed the possibility of deploying NATO troops to Ukraine and said such a step would be unacceptable. She argued that the troops would prolong the war in Ukraine and prevent a long-term solution, adding that foreign soldiers would become legitimate military targets.
Reaction to Finnish President Stubb
Zakharova harshly criticized Finnish President Alexander Stubb while responding to remarks attributed to him that drone attacks by Ukraine against Russian infrastructure were increasing the cost of the war for Russia and should be supported.
Zakharova said Stubb could be described as a terrorist if he considered attacks against civilians and civilian facilities justified. She said the hostile actions of Finland and other unfriendly countries would not go unanswered and that Russia would respond proportionately in line with its national interests.
Claim of talks with Ukraine
Zakharova also commented on a statement by Kirill Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, that Russian and Ukrainian delegations could meet in September. Zakharova said she could not confirm the information and that Ukraine had made no new proposal aimed at resolving the crisis.
Zakharova also alleged that the Ukrainian army had carried out attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the nearby city of Enerhodar, accusing the government in Kyiv of nuclear blackmail and of endangering the security of Europe and the world.
Statements on Armenia and Syria
Zakharova argued that political forces opposing the government in Armenia were being subjected to pressure, alleging that the European Union was turning a blind eye to the situation and using Armenia against Russia. She described Armenia's attempt to benefit both from the Eurasian Economic Union, of which it is a member, and from integration with the European Union as unethical.
Zakharova also commented on the death sentences handed down by a Damascus court against eight defendants, including ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and his cousin Atef Najib, for the killing of civilians and torture resulting in death.
Recalling that Bashar al-Assad had taken refuge in Russia, Zakharova said Assad's acceptance in Russia had no political significance and that the decision had been made on humanitarian grounds. She argued that Assad and his family were in danger because of the change of government in Syria.
