Putin’s Diplomatic Game: Expulsions, Spies, and Empty Embassies

Keir Starmer’s Brexit Reset: All Talk, No Trade?

Keir Starmer is pushing hard on his “post-Brexit reset,” assuring everyone that rebuilding ties with Europe is at the top of his agenda. He’s been putting in the miles, with multiple visits to Berlin and Paris, plus a historic sit-down with Ireland’s Taoiseach. So, it seems he’s serious, right?

Well, that’s what he wants us to believe. Despite the warm words and diplomatic gestures, whispers in Brussels are getting louder. EU officials are starting to wonder if Starmer’s grand promises are more about optics than actual progress. Sure, he’s saying the right things, but when it comes to policy? The story changes. Rejoining Erasmus, the EU’s student exchange program? Not happening. A youth mobility scheme? Also a no-go.

While his early enthusiasm was welcomed by European leaders, some are now feeling a bit underwhelmed. Starmer’s charm offensive may be great for headlines, but it’s not translating into action. Without real movement on the issues that matter, the UK’s relationship with the EU seems stuck in neutral. If he keeps dodging concrete steps, those hopeful smiles in Brussels may turn into raised eyebrows—and eventually, full-on scepticism about just how “reset” this relationship really is.

Putin’s Diplomatic Game: Expulsions, Spies, and Empty Embassies

Vladimir Putin is playing the expulsion game again, and this time, he’s targeting British diplomats. Six UK officials have been kicked out of Russia, with the Kremlin accusing them of being spies. The FSB, Russia’s security service, claims to have uncovered evidence that Britain has been working to deliver a “strategic defeat” to Russia in Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, the UK government dismissed this as “completely baseless”, but the move has sent a chill through diplomatic channels - and left the British Embassy in Moscow looking increasingly empty.

This latest spat escalated after Britain revoked the credentials of a key Russian defence attaché in London, Colonel Maxim Elovik, back in May. So, this seems like another round of diplomatic tit-for-tat, which is a long-standing tradition between Russia and the UK, right? We’ve seen this on numerous occasions before - whenever one side throws out diplomats, the other mirrors the move. Remember the Skripal affair in 2018? The Gordievsky scandal in 1985? Or Operation Foot in 1971, which saw the largest mass expulsion of Soviet spies from Britain. Is this all just part of the same game?

Well, not quite. With tensions over Ukraine at an all-time high, the stakes are even greater. Russia’s move is seen as retaliation, with Putin using these diplomatic clashes to stoke the flames of animosity between Moscow and the West. He’s hinting that Russia might even sever diplomatic ties with Britain altogether. Is this his way of intimidating Western leaders into backing off from Ukraine? Possibly. But, if he’s expecting a frightened response from Downing Street or the White House, he might be disappointed. Just this week, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a hefty £600m in aid for Ukraine, highlighting Britain’s unwavering support for the country’s humanitarian and energy needs. And, to add to this, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, recently met with US President, Joe Biden, with both appearing to brush off Putin’s intimidation tactics. Biden even casually remarked, “I don’t think much about Vladimir Putin”, suggesting that the West is losing little sleep over the Kremlin’s diplomatic outburst.

So, while Putin may be expelling diplomats and throwing out threats, it seems unlikely that his moves will have much impact on the West’s resolve to stand with Ukraine. The diplomatic chessboard is still set, but, at the moment at least, it’s clear which side is keeping its cool.