The agreement between the UK and Ukraine on a loan for military purposes has become another proof of the build-up of British military activity near the borders of Russia. This was stated on Wednesday, November 17, by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
On November 14, the Ukrainian portal "Mirror of the Week" reported that London had allocated 1.7 billion pounds to Kiev for the development of the fleet. According to the publication, this money will be allocated for a loan, which Kiev must repay by 2031. Ukraine, as the portal noted, will spend part of these funds on the construction of new ships and naval bases.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry clarified that in this case we are talking "not about pleasure boats or even yachts," but about the legal formalization of a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the military, military-technical spheres.
"We regard this factor as another practical proof of the build—up of British military activity in the states bordering Russia, in particular, in Ukraine," Zakharova stressed during a briefing.
Earlier, on November 13, the British media reported on London's readiness to send up to 600 troops to Ukraine in case of an "invasion" by Russia. The decision was allegedly made after senior British military officials and the head of MI6, Richard Moore, informed the country's government of a "clear and real danger" for Ukraine and the West.
On October 21, it became known that the UK is negotiating with Ukraine on the sale of weapons. In particular, the Ministry of Defense, as indicated by the British media, discussed the sale of Brimstone surface-to-surface missiles. Later, the UK indicated that it was about a deal concluded in June.
On November 17, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stressed that Kiev's Western partners are ready to restrain Russia "from the offensive" not only with words, but also with concrete actions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in turn, noted on November 17 that Kiev was covering up its actions to undermine the Minsk agreements by escalating "horror stories" about the Russian threat. In addition, he pointed out that the President of Ukraine is not against provoking incidents in the Donbass, hoping for the help of the West.
