**Russia Expels Two British Nationals**
On March 10, Russia stripped the accreditation of two British nationals linked to the UK Embassy in Moscow. The move was made after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused them of espionage and “subversive” activities.
The FSB claimed that a second secretary of the British Embassy and the spouse of another British diplomat were involved in intelligence and subversive work. However, no evidence was provided to support these claims. The British Embassy denied the allegations as “completely baseless”.
This latest move is part of a diplomatic row between London and Moscow. Earlier this year, the UK expelled a Russian diplomat, while Russia threw out six U.K. Embassy staff members in September 2024.
**Escalating Tensions**
Tensions have been mounting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the UK backed Kyiv militarily and politically. The European Union is bracing for a potential Hungarian veto on extending sanctions against Russia, which are set to expire on March 15.
Meanwhile, the US will hold separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia this week, as reported by CNN.