Britain summons Russian ambassador after diplomats expelled

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LONDON (Reuters) -The British government said on Wednesday it had summoned the Russian ambassador following what it described as an “unprecedented and unfounded public campaign of aggression” by Russia, including accusations against Foreign Office staff.

Russia’s FSB security service said last week it had revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow after accusing them of spying and sabotage work, accusations Britain described as “malicious and completely baseless”.

“This pattern of behaviour is completely unacceptable, deeply unprofessional, and beneath the standards of conduct between states,” a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign Office said, calling on Russia to “stop this activity immediately”.

“This is the latest development in a deliberate campaign by Russia to undermine and threaten UK security and democracy and deter our support for Ukraine, through disinformation, acts of sabotage in Europe and direct harassment and restrictions against our diplomatic missions in Russia,” they added.

Russia’s move to expel British diplomats ratcheted up tensions between Moscow and London, hours before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to advance talks on giving the go-ahead for Kyiv to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia. There has been no announcement on missiles since that meeting.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar)