Putin warns Britain of ‘serious consequences’ and says Rishi Sunak ‘doesn’t understand’ the risks as he accuses the UK trying to ‘disrupt Russian nuclear power plants’
Vladimir Putin today warned Britain of “serious consequences” and shouted that Rishi Sunak “doesn’t understand” the risks, after accusing British special forces of trying to disrupt Russian nuclear power stations.
The Kremlin dictator claimed, without providing evidence, that Britain’s elite forces were training Ukrainian troops to damage nuclear power lines in Russia.
The ranting despot threatened dire consequences for Britain, while admitting his thinly veiled threat would be interpreted as ‘nuclear blackmail’.
Putin claimed that his FSB security service had interrogated a Ukrainian team operating in Russia during a speech at an economic forum in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.
“It turned out to be a sabotage group of Ukrainian special services,” he said.
The Kremlin dictator claimed, without providing evidence, that Britain’s elite forces were training Ukrainian troops to damage nuclear power lines in Russia.
The ranting despot threatened dire consequences for Britain as he admitted his thinly veiled threat would be interpreted as ‘nuclear blackmail’
“Interrogation revealed that they had been ordered to damage one of our nuclear power plants by exploding a power line… to damage the operation of the power plant. And this is not the first attempt.’
He claimed: ‘During interrogation they admitted that they had been trained under the supervision of British instructors. Do (the British) understand what they are playing with, or not?
“Are they provoking our response to Ukrainian nuclear sites, nuclear power plants or whatever?
‘Do the British leaders, or the Prime Minister (of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak) know what their special services are doing in Ukraine?
‘Or do they have no idea at all? I assume this is also possible. I suppose it is possible that British special services are acting on American orders. Either way, we know the ultimate beneficiary.
‘But do they realize what they are playing with? I’m afraid they’re just underestimating it…. I know there will be howls after my words like ‘These are threats!’, ‘Nuclear blackmail!’, etc.’
Putin – a former KGB spy in the Cold War – told his audience at the 2023 Eastern Economic Summit: “I assure you that this is the completely pure truth. So these guys tell us this during interrogation.
“I know some may say, ‘They’ll say anything under a gun.’ This is not true. And the leadership of the British special services knows that I speak the truth.
‘But I’m not sure Britain’s leadership understands what’s going on.
‘These kinds of things are of serious concern because they (the UK) have no control over the ground – which could lead to serious consequences.’
Putin did not specify which branch of the British special services he believed trained the Ukrainian sabotage team.
The Kremlin dictator will later meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Russia, where he will plead for ammunition and weapons for his faltering war in Ukraine.
Kim Jong-un waved as he left Pyongyang by train for a visit to Russia on Sunday
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia today ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin (pictured together in 2019) for which the United States has warned there could be an arms deal to support Moscow’s attack on Ukraine
Experts say Moscow will likely seek artillery shells and anti-tank missiles from North Korea, which wants advanced satellite and nuclear-powered submarine technology in return.
Kim arrived in Russia earlier today ahead of his meeting with Putin. The ruthless North Korean leader made a rare foreign trip and his first since the pandemic. He waved from the doorway of his heavily armored private train as it departed from Pyongyang on Sunday evening, according to images published by state media.
The White House warned last week that North Korea would “pay a price” if it supplied Russia with weapons for the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim defied the warnings and traveled to Russia on Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
He was accompanied by senior North Korean military officials, including officials responsible for weapons production and space technology, it added.
Mr. Peskov said the two leaders “would cooperate in sensitive areas that should not be the subject of public revelations and announcements.”
KCNA footage showed Kim given a “warm farewell” in the evening, complete with red carpet and guard of honor at Pyongyang station.