The key facts
- Maria Zakharova linked reports of new Storm Shadow deliveries to London's course toward escalation
- In her assessment, the United Kingdom's actions contradict its statements about a diplomatic settlement
- Earlier, the transfer to Ukraine of secret data on missile components was reported; the timeline for serial production is unknown
Statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing, that reports of the United Kingdom supplying new Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine indicate London's intention to seek further escalation of the conflict. According to her, such actions contradict the British authorities' statements about the need for a peaceful settlement, and London 'continues to bet on the continuation of hostilities.'
Quotes and accusations
'In fact, what is happening with Storm Shadow is, of course, concrete evidence of the United Kingdom's commitment to deepening the crisis and escalating the war to the last Ukrainian, in order to inflict, as they put it, maximum damage on our country,' Life.ru quoted the diplomat as saying. Zakharova also expressed doubt about the British leadership's interest in a sustainable peace and accused British politicians of trying to use contradictory wording and public statements to advance their own position: 'English politicians, as is well known, are experts at manipulating wording and displaying refined insolence — saying one thing while doing exactly the opposite.'
Context: data for production
Earlier, Life.ru reported, citing its own materials, that London had handed Kyiv secret information about Storm Shadow components for a possible launch of its own missile production. For serial production, the Ukrainian side would need complex equipment, and the timeline for the start of production remains unknown. Zakharova's statement was made against the backdrop of these reports; the British side's position is not presented in the publication, so the assessment of escalation remains the Russian Foreign Ministry's point of view.
