UK says does not want ‘direct conflict with Russia’

British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has stated that the West is not seeking a direct military confrontation with Russia over Ukraine. He also indicated that Berlin is hesitant to supply long-range missiles to Kiev out of concern they might be used to target Russian positions in Crimea.

On Tuesday, Shapps remarked that Britain is comfortable with its weapons being used by Ukraine to strike the peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 following a controversial referendum. Most countries do not recognize Crimea as part of Russia. Earlier this month, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also approved the use of UK-made weapons for deep strikes within Russian territory.

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador, warning that Moscow reserves the right to retaliate against any British military facilities and equipment in Ukraine or elsewhere.

Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Shapps clarified that the West avoids intercepting incoming Russian missiles over Ukraine to prevent direct conflict with Russia, stating, “We don’t want to be in a direct conflict with Russia… we don’t intend to go and fight that war.”

In a separate interview with Sky News on Sunday, Shapps asserted that the UK has been proactive in supporting the use of its weapons, including in Crimea, which Britain views as part of Ukraine. He noted that other countries have since followed the UK's lead.

Shapps suggested that Germany's reluctance to supply long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine stems from fears they could be used over Crimea. He expressed hope that Berlin would reconsider this position.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the “American and British handlers of the [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky regime” of not only supplying long-range missiles and heavy weapons but also endorsing their use against Russia.

Zakharova warned, “Once again, we would like to unequivocally warn Washington, London, Brussels, and other Western capitals, as well as Kiev, which is under their control, that they are playing with fire. Russia will not leave such encroachments on its territory unanswered.”

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday that several Western-supplied missiles and guided bombs had been intercepted by Russian air defenses in recent days.