UK sends blunt 4-word warning to Putin over Russia’s chilling ‘threats’

The UK has hit back at chilling Russian “threats” with a steadfast warning that it “will not be deterred” in supporting Ukraine. The Kremlin has been widely condemned for its brutal, illegal invasion by member nations of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which works to protect security in the region.

Russia has, in turn, blamed the West for escalating and exaggerating tensions, lashing out with its own terrifying warnings to OSCE nations about getting more deeply involved in the four-year conflict. But at the OSCE in Vienna on Thursday, UK ambassador Neil Holland denounced Russia’s bullying strong-arm tactics with a blunt four-word riposte: “It will not work.” He hit out at Russia’s “disregard for agreed rules” and said Moscow’s chilling warning “reflects a familiar attempt to intimidate and deter those who support Ukraine’s right to defend itself against an illegal and unprovoked invasion”.

The head of the UK’s delegation to the OSCE added: “The Russian state characterises international support for Ukraine’s defence against its deadly attacks as an escalation of the conflict – a claim that is unfounded and aimed at deflecting from its own actions.

Deadly strikes on Ukraine reached a wartime high last month, with an average of more than 200 drones being launched by Russia per day.

A massive drone and missile barrage killed at least 16 people and injured more than 100 in cities across Ukraine on April 16.

Mr Holland has described the repeated Russian attacks as “contempt for international law” and “civilian life”.

The UK has provided vital military support to Ukraine since the outbreak of the war in 2022, regularly sending valuable equipment and helping to train soldiers.

Later in his remarks on Thursday, Mr Holland called for the release of three people from the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission who have been unlawfully detained by Russia and its proxies for four years.

He called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dmytro Shabanov, Vadym Golda and Maxim Petrov, saying their detention “forms part of a broader pattern of obstructing independent observation, rejecting accountability, and weakening the institutions designed to reduce risk and build security”.