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| Putin showing UK 'what we are taking on' with Russian bombers, former UK ambassador claims | Putin showing UK 'what we are taking on' with Russian bombers, former UK ambassador claims |
| (10 days later) | |
| The former British ambassador to Russia has claimed an incident involving two Russian bombers is Vladimir Putin’s way of showing the UK “what we are taking on”. | The former British ambassador to Russia has claimed an incident involving two Russian bombers is Vladimir Putin’s way of showing the UK “what we are taking on”. |
| Last week, the UK summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office after two Russian bombers flew over the English Channel, causing disruption to civil aviation. | Last week, the UK summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Office after two Russian bombers flew over the English Channel, causing disruption to civil aviation. |
| A British government source claimed the incident was being considered "a significant escalation" because Russian aircraft usually confine themselves to flying close to Scotland. | A British government source claimed the incident was being considered "a significant escalation" because Russian aircraft usually confine themselves to flying close to Scotland. |
| Sir Tony Brenton, who worked as the UK’s ambassador to Russia between 2004 and 2008, claims the presence of the two long-range nuclear capable TU-95 bombers was likely a "sabre-rattling" display from Putin. | Sir Tony Brenton, who worked as the UK’s ambassador to Russia between 2004 and 2008, claims the presence of the two long-range nuclear capable TU-95 bombers was likely a "sabre-rattling" display from Putin. |
| He told The Express of the two Russian bombers: "I'm pretty sure what's going on [is that] this is Russia sabre-rattling, demonstrating that however angry we may get with them over Ukraine, they are not to be treated lightly. | He told The Express of the two Russian bombers: "I'm pretty sure what's going on [is that] this is Russia sabre-rattling, demonstrating that however angry we may get with them over Ukraine, they are not to be treated lightly. |
| "They are big nuclear power with a lot of military and we need to be quite cautious when dealing with them. | "They are big nuclear power with a lot of military and we need to be quite cautious when dealing with them. |
| "They are reminding us of what we are taking on when we are taking Russia on." | "They are reminding us of what we are taking on when we are taking Russia on." |
| RAF Typhoons were scrambled to intercept the military aircrafts and Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko was called to account for their presence. | RAF Typhoons were scrambled to intercept the military aircrafts and Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko was called to account for their presence. |
| Mr Yakovenko dismissed the patrols as simply "routine" and argued they could not be deemed "threatening, destabilising or disruptive". | Mr Yakovenko dismissed the patrols as simply "routine" and argued they could not be deemed "threatening, destabilising or disruptive". |
| In December, the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond expressed concern over "the extremely aggressive" probing of Britain's airspace by Russian military aircraft after a spate of interceptions off the Scottish coast. | In December, the British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond expressed concern over "the extremely aggressive" probing of Britain's airspace by Russian military aircraft after a spate of interceptions off the Scottish coast. |
| A Russian Tu-95 Bear 'H' photographed in Scotland | A Russian Tu-95 Bear 'H' photographed in Scotland |
| Sir Tony said the on-going crisis in Ukraine is causing Britain to respond "more sharply and more publicly" to Russian aircrafts. | Sir Tony said the on-going crisis in Ukraine is causing Britain to respond "more sharply and more publicly" to Russian aircrafts. |
| "I think what's changed is that the Russians are behaving more provocatively, if less frequently, and we are paying more attention to it," he said. | "I think what's changed is that the Russians are behaving more provocatively, if less frequently, and we are paying more attention to it," he said. |
| "We are more sensitive to it and more reactive because we also have a message to give to the Russians, which is that ok, they are a big power and they want to flex their muscles, but we are watching them and we are ready for them." | "We are more sensitive to it and more reactive because we also have a message to give to the Russians, which is that ok, they are a big power and they want to flex their muscles, but we are watching them and we are ready for them." |
| His comments were made shortly before as the leaders of Germany and France met with Putin in Moscow on Friday in an attempt to see a new peace plan accepted by the Russian president. | His comments were made shortly before as the leaders of Germany and France met with Putin in Moscow on Friday in an attempt to see a new peace plan accepted by the Russian president. |