Russia denies its intentions for a change of government in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the British foreign ministry created a disinformation campaign in conjunction with NATO.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed British claims that Russia wants to change Ukraine's government to one that is bent on Moscow's interests, and that former Ukrainian deputy Yevheniy Murayev was being considered as a potential candidate.
Britain's Foreign Office on Saturday named a handful of Ukrainian candidates it said had connections to Russia's intelligence services, along with Murayev, who leads a pro-Russia party without parliamentary representation.
The lawmakers named also include Mykola Azarov, who was prime minister under Viktor Yanukovych, the Ukrainian president ousted in the 2014 uprising, and Andriy Kluyev, Yanukovych's former chief of staff.
The British office in its statements assured that the appointed legislators had direct links with Russian intelligence and are an operational part of the attack that is taking place against Ukraine.
Murayev leads the Nashi party, the name of the Russian youth movement that supported Putin, and is openly sympathetic to Russia and the separatists. Although in his statements on Sunday he denied it.
In his statements he stated that the era of pro-Western and pro-Russian politicians was over.
However, the British government claims that these claims are based on Russian intelligence, and noted that there were no arguments to support their statements.
Escalating tension
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the British foreign office is carrying out a disinformation campaign and accused NATO and allied countries of being responsible for the increase in tension on the Ukraine border.
Liz Truss, British foreign secretary, said the information "sheds light on the extent of Russian activity designed to undermine Ukraine, and is an indicator of the Kremlin's deliberations."
Truss called on Russia to lower tensions and end the campaign of attack and intimidation against Ukraine and seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict. And he reaffirmed the British position to apply great measures if they make the "strategic mistake" of attacking Ukraine.
As a support measure, Britain has sent anti- tank weapons to the Ukrainian border to double defenses against an imminent invasion by Russia.
Amid efforts to end the conflict, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace was appointed to meet Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow. No date has yet been set for the meeting, but this would be the first meeting between Britain and Russia since 2013.
The United States has recently carried out a forceful mission to rally its European allies against another Russian attack on Ukraine. The White House called the British government's accusations worrying and expressed its support for the Ukrainian government.
US President Joe Biden met Saturday at the Camp David presidential estate with the national security team to discuss the Ukraine-Russia conflict.