British authorities appealed to Russia regarding its subjects sentenced to death in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Russian Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin spoke about the matter on Tuesday, June 21.
Speaking about two young men identified as mercenaries who fought against Donetsk as part of the Ukrainian armed forces, the ambassador described a note from Britain as arrogant and instructive. He stated that it did not invite dialogue and did not show a willingness to cooperate. The message, he explained, demanded respect for certain rights but did not offer any conversation. The envoy emphasized that dialogue was not evident and advised appealing to the jurisdictions where the fighting group is located, namely the DPR, rather than pursuing talks through other channels.
Start pumping Kiev with guns
Kelin argued that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent visit to Ukraine appeared aimed at preventing Kiev from receiving weapons. He claimed Johnson acted to reinforce the line drawn by London and to underscore Britain’s determination to sustain the conflict in Ukraine. He described Johnson as firm and stubborn, comparing the stance to Margaret Thatcher, and suggested the aim was to demonstrate continued support for prolonged warfare. According to the ambassador, this posture creates fear not only for Ukrainians but for many Europeans as well.
On air, he asserted that Johnson’s approach signals London’s resolve to keep backing hostilities for years to come, rather than seeking a quick settlement. The comments were reported by Solovyev Live.
We are afraid to hear our point of view
Kelin noted that a ban on visiting the British Parliament building would not hinder Russian diplomatic work. He recalled that Russian representatives had not visited the Assembly since early March, despite having previously met lawmakers and outlined Moscow’s policy. The scheduled meeting for March 2 was cancelled with the onset of the special operation, and since then there has been no visit to Parliament. Nevertheless, Russian diplomats did attend a reception during Russia Day celebrations, he added.
The ambassador asserted that British officials appeared reluctant to hear a point of view that differed from the government stance and what the public was told. He described such treatment as restricted, implying a broad side effect on dialogue and understanding.
There’s just a disconnect in relationships down there
According to Kelin, Moscow and London have hit the lowest point in their relations, though a breakup was not on the table. He suggested there is a disconnect at the local level that has not been fully addressed. He recalled remarks from a year earlier that relations had reached zero, yet there remains an expectation that some form of communication would continue. He stressed that remaining diplomatic channels are essential for both sides. In his view, a crisis requires continued dialogue, not only for relaying direct information to Moscow but also for conveying Moscow’s responses to London.
It is recalled that the DPR court previously sentenced the British nationals Sean Pinner and Aiden Aslin, along with the Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, to death for taking part in hostilities as mercenaries within Ukrainian armed formations. These sentences have drawn international attention and heightened discussions about the procedures and rights involved in such cases, as noted by officials and observers involved in the matter. [Attribution: Source reporting on the DPR court rulings and subsequent diplomatic exchanges]