The decision comes in response to the United Kingdom's recent revocation of the credentials of a Russian attaché at their embassy in London and the imposition of restrictions on Moscow's diplomatic activities in the British capital.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) stated in an online statement that the British envoys' accreditations had been withdrawn by the Foreign Ministry, with an FSB official confirming their expulsion. The FSB alleged that the diplomats belonged to a division of the U.K.'s Foreign Office that aimed to strategically defeat Russia and accused them of engaging in intelligence-gathering and subversive activities. However, the specific identities of the six diplomats were not disclosed.

The FSB warned that if other diplomats were found to be involved in similar actions, it would demand the early termination of their missions to Russia. The expelled British diplomats were reported to have met with independent media and rights groups labeled as "foreign agents" by Russian authorities, indicating a possible connection between their activities and organizations critical of the Kremlin.

Amidst these developments, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently visiting Washington for talks, which include Ukraine's request to use Western-supplied weapons to strike targets within Russia. President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning, stating that such actions by Kyiv would lead to NATO being at war with Moscow.

The U.K. Foreign Office rejected Russia's allegations as completely baseless and emphasized that the expulsions had already taken place weeks ago. They attributed the decision to their response in May, when they stripped the diplomatic credentials of a Russian attaché in London, alleging that he was an undeclared intelligence officer. Additionally, the British government imposed a five-year time limit on all Russian diplomats in the U.K.

Expulsions of diplomats, both from Western countries working in Russia and Russian diplomats in the West, have become increasingly common since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last year alone, Western countries and Japan expelled a total of 670 Russian diplomats, while Moscow responded by expelling 346 diplomats, according to Russian news outlet RBC.

Despite the tensions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that breaking off diplomatic relations with the U.K. was not currently being considered. British Prime Minister Starmer reiterated that the U.K. does not seek conflict with Russia, emphasizing that Russia had started the conflict by illegally invading Ukraine. However, Ukraine's plea to use Western-provided long-range missiles against deeper targets in Russia remains a contentious issue.

As Prime Minister Starmer meets with President Joe Biden, discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine and potential policy changes are expected to take place. While it is unlikely that any immediate announcements will be made, there are indications that President Biden may consider adjusting U.S. policy in response to Russia's evolving battlefield strategy.

The diplomatic standoff between Russia and the United Kingdom shows no signs of immediate resolution, as both sides continue to exchange accusations and take retaliatory actions. The situation highlights the enduring tensions between East and West and the potential for further escalations in the near future.