{"id":129434,"date":"2025-03-10T14:11:53","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T14:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-war-latest-moscow-launches-scathing-attack-on-uk-after-expelling-diplomats-crunch-peace-talks-to-begin-sky-news\/"},"modified":"2025-03-10T14:11:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T14:11:53","slug":"ukraine-war-latest-moscow-launches-scathing-attack-on-uk-after-expelling-diplomats-crunch-peace-talks-to-begin-sky-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/ukraine-war-latest-moscow-launches-scathing-attack-on-uk-after-expelling-diplomats-crunch-peace-talks-to-begin-sky-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine war latest: Moscow launches scathing attack on UK – after expelling diplomats; crunch peace talks to begin – Sky News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading to Saudi Arabia for peace talks with US officials this week. Meanwhile, Moscow expels two British diplomats over spying accusations, while accusing the UK of being the “main instigator” of global conflict – and appearing to blame it for the Second World War.
Monday 10 March 2025 13:44, UK
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The United States expects substantial progress in Ukraine talks this week and hopes that a deal on critical minerals can be signed, Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has.
As he set off for talks in the Middle East, Witkoff told Fox News intelligence sharing would also be discussed at this week’s meetings.
He also claimed: “The US has never cut off intelligence for any defensive needs of the Ukrainians.”
This claim is at odds with the sources in Kyiv, who say the White House’s decision to halt the sharing of some information has affected Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian attacks.
We’ll bring you more detail on Witkoff’s comments as we get it.
Stepping away from the frontline and talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian war veterans have been learning to ski.
The wounded ex-servicemen were taught adaptive skiing in Oregon, USA.
Oleksandr Shvachka (pictured below in first image) lost his left leg to Russian tank fire outside Kyiv, in March 2022.
He said skiing on the mountain was an “amazing emotion.”
“It’s a new experience, and I’m so happy,” he said.
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent<\/a><\/b>
Today’s diplomatic expulsions come as no surprise. 
Speaking to British and European officials here, the threat of being kicked out is very much baked-in to diplomatic life here, with many saying it’s a question of “when” they’ll be given their marching orders, rather than “if”.
That’s because there’s been a wider tit-for-tat exchange of expulsions that has been going on between Moscow and London for a number of years now, ever since the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury in 2018. 
These latest expulsions can be seen as part of that.
But why now? 
I think it’s no coincidence that it comes only a matter of days after three Bulgarian nationals in the UK were convicted of spying for Russia.
It also comes amid this apparent rapprochement between Washington and Moscow. 
That shift in relations with the US has elevated the UK to the role of public enemy No 1 here, and these latest expulsions are a way of reinforcing that status.
The camera crews from Russian state media were waiting for the British embassy representative when he arrived at the foreign ministry this morning after being summoned. 
“When is Britain going to stop with the violations?” one reporter asked, in footage that will no doubt be splashed all over the news bulletins here. 
It’s how the Kremlin shapes public opinion – casting Britain as the enemy, out to attack Russia.
But even if it’s not surprising, the expulsions are still significant in the sense they will be disruptive, both on a professional level and a personal one (for the diplomat whose spouse was sent home). 
The British embassy here is already operating on a vastly reduced headcount as a result of all the expulsions. 
And although the diplomat will likely be replaced in the not-too-distant future, any kind of depletion – albeit temporary – makes a difficult job even harder.
Britain is set to hold a second “coalition of the willing” meeting. 
It is due to take place virtually on Saturday, after the previous meeting in Lancaster House.
“You can expect the prime minister to host a second leaders’ meeting of the coalition of the willing, building on his Lancaster House summit,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told reporters. 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeated his past statements that Ukraine is, and has always been, seeking peace.
In a post on social media, he said: “Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason it continues is Russia.”
He also thanked the country’s soldiers.
Why this matters<\/b>
While it may seem like an ordinary post from a wartime leader, Zelenskyy’s words on social media comes as both the US and Russia have made various allegations against Ukraine.
Ukraine was the victim of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and did not start the war.
Instead, it has been fighting to defend itself.
On top of that, recent months have seen its once-closest ally cut off military aid first and then intelligence sharing.
Fighting on multiple fronts, Ukraine is looking to defend its sovereignty against Moscow.
Donald Trump – who has a long history with the Ukrainian leader – has taken a number of shots at Zelenskyy in recent weeks, making some unfounded claims among these.
He has repeatedly called into doubt Ukraine’s willingness to see a peace completed.
Zelenskyy’s tweet could be seen as another response to Trump and his outriders, calling his aims into question.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has pointed to Russia, warning about Moscow’s willingness to stick to any end to the fighting.
Russia has accused the UK of being the “main instigator” of global conflict – and has appeared to blame the Second World War on Britain.
The country’s Foreign Intelligence Service said London “sees a threat to its interests” in the US and Russia restoring relations. 
It adds the UK “fears that this will lead to the failure of the British strategy of containing Moscow”, in which “control over Ukraine occupies a central place”.
“As we can see, London today, just as it did on the eve of both world wars of the last century, acts as the main ‘instigator’ of the global conflict,” the agency added.
“At the same time, the British themselves, obviously, are again counting on sitting it out on their island. 
“It is time to expose them and send a clear signal to the treacherous Albion and its elites: you will not succeed.”
The agency also appeared to try and sow division between the US and UK.
For context<\/b>: The Second World War was started by Nazi Germany, which began invading neighbouring countries despite public attempts by Neville Chamberlain, the prime minister, to commit to a peace deal.
War was declared by Britain after Adolf Hitler continued to disregard its overtures – a fight Russia (then the Soviet Union) joined when the Nazis broke their own agreement and invaded large swathes of Russian territory.
This year, Ukraine plans to purchase around 4.5 million first-person-view (FPV) drones.
It is more than double last year’s rate and reflects how the war in Ukraine has been dependent on such technologies – and their developments – as well as the ability of the countries to get ahold of them.
The fighting has often been defined by cheaper and more effective alternatives to conventional artillery or long-range missiles.
Ukrainian officials said the majority of its hits on Russia were now by drones.
But as part of the move to keep purchasing drones this year, 96% of them are coming from Ukrainian manufacturers and suppliers.
This is part of Kyiv’s attempts to develop its own defence industry and reduce reliance on allies.
Which notably comes as its once main ally, the US, committed an about-face after Donald Trump took office.
Small, inexpensive FPV drones are controlled by pilots on the ground and often crash into targets while packed with explosives.
In a separate statement also today, Kyiv’s top general Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian drones had destroyed 22% more targets last month compared to January, but added that Russian forces were also adapting.
“We simply have no right to lag behind the enemy in those areas of technological warfare where we should be arming and strengthening ourselves by our own resources,” Syrskyi said.
Ukrainian special forces have captured nine Russian soldiers near Pokrovsk.
After a stand-off said to have gone on for “several days”, soldiers from Ukraine’s 144th Centre of Special Operations Forces won out against a group of Russian soldiers.
They captured what was described as an “industrial building” after the fight.
Using a speaker mounted on a drone, the Ukrainian special forces called on the Russian soldiers entrenched inside to surrender.
After they refused, Ukrainian forces blew up part of the building, leading to the soldiers reportedly “waving a white rag” and surrendering, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Among the Russian soldiers, some were said to be wounded.<\/p>\n

Why Pokrovsk matters<\/b>
Pokrovsk is a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.
It is a logistics centre Ukraine uses to sustain its efforts at the frontline, and capturing it would be a big blow – and a big win for Russia.
Recent months have seen intense fighting around the city.
Pokrovsk is also the site of Ukraine’s only colliery producing coking coal – now closed as Russian troops have made gains.
Talks to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have so far involved two key players – Washington and Moscow.
Kyiv hopes to finally enter the fray this week in peace talks scheduled with US officials, little more than a week since that<\/i> disastrous meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
One thing all these talks have in common is the location – Saudi Arabia.
The oil-rich kingdom may seem like an unusual host for talks on a European war, but there could be several factors behind Saudi’s desire to mediate and the willingness of the parties involved.
What’s in it for Saudi?<\/b>
For Saudi, it’s another chance to boost its profile on the international stage.
Since its public image reached a nadir after the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Gulf state has sought to grow its soft power through the launch of big-money sports leagues in golf and football, while hosting major boxing events – which critics say is the country’s attempt to “sportswash” its poor human rights record.
In the diplomatic sphere, Saudi has reached an understanding with Iran, hosted Volodymyr Zelenskyy for an Arab League summit and been involved in talks over wars in Sudan and Gaza.
It’s all reasserted the role the kingdom long has perceived itself as having – being a dominant force in the Middle East and the leader of the Sunni Muslim world.
Why did the US and Russia pick Saudi?<\/b>
Trump described Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a “fantastic guy” in January, with Saudi announcing its intention to invest $600bn over the next four years.
The president wants that to rise to \u00a31trn and said he will ask Saudi to lower oil prices.
For Moscow, Riyadh has managed to maintain Russian ties through the OPEC+ oil cartel even as Western nations applied sanctions on the Kremlin.
Saudi has been involved in mediation over the Ukraine war before, helping to secure a prisoner swap in 2022, with 215 Ukrainians – most of whom were captured after the fall of Mariupol – returned.
Saudi privacy<\/b>
Moreover, Saudi’s autocratic government, compliant media and distance from the war allows for talks to take place in a tightly-controlled country.
That means discussions can continue in relative privacy – and gives Saudi another chance to trumpet itself as a neutral territory for high-stakes negotiations.
The UK has responded to Russia’s expulsion of two British diplomats from Moscow.
In our 7.44am post, we reported on the development in which Russia claimed, without providing evidence, the pair had conducted “intelligence work”.
The FSB told state news agency TASS that both had given false information when entering the country.
In response, the UK slapped down Russia’s claims.
“This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It came after Russia’s own foreign ministry announced it had summoned a representative of the British embassy in the country.
Alongside that, it repeated claims the two were spies.
In the meeting with the representative, it was added: “British citizens are strongly advised to provide only reliable and complete information about themselves when applying for a Russian visa.
“A warning was also made that if London escalates the situation, the Russian side will give a decisive ‘mirror’ response.”
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