Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025 have reached new heights, marked by escalating sanctions, political retaliation, and rising fears of military confrontation. London and Moscow have continued to exchange punitive measures, with the UK ramping up sanctions and Russia responding by banning members of the British Parliament. Behind the scenes, British defence officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of direct conflict, a scenario once considered unlikely. As tensions mount, analysts warn that the risk of war, though still distant, is no longer implausible. This article delves into the evolving nature of Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025, from economic warfare and diplomatic estrangement to military posturing and strategic vulnerabilities.
The UK’s escalating policies towards Russia after the Ukraine war
The UK imposed severe economic sanctions on Russia in response to the war in Ukraine. London remains one of Kiev’s strongest supporters. London has sought to redefine its global role since Brexit. The UK government has seen the war in Ukraine as an opportunity to strengthen its international standing. In the wake of the crisis, Britain has become one of the largest arms suppliers to Ukraine. The country has also benefited from increased military equipment and security contract sales. As security concerns escalate, it has been able to form new joint military projects in the form of smaller coalitions. The animosity between Russia and Britain has intensified since then and continues to this day. They have applied a variety of negative positions and sanctions policies against each other. Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025 continue and have become more tense.
Continued Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025: Reciprocal punitive measures
Continuing Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025, Russia banned 21 British MPS from entering Russia due to anti-Russian policies. The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the MPs had made “hostile statements and unfounded accusations” against Moscow. The statement said: “In response to London’s ongoing confrontational policies, which include efforts to demonise our country, fabricate many anti-Russian narratives to reduce Moscow’s influence on the international stage, and continue funneling weapons to the neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv, a decision has been made to include several members of the UK Parliament in the Russian stop list.”
Possible expansion of entry bans for British MPs to Russia
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced, “Work to expand the Russian stop list will be continued.” With the increase in Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025, there is a serious possibility that the number of British political officials banned from entering Russia will increase. The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Moscow is closely monitoring aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric from London and will make the necessary decisions. The ministry said Britain’s sanctions against Russia show that London will continue its confrontational approach with Moscow.
UK counter-sanctions against Russia
Britain has recently imposed counter-sanctions against Moscow in response to Russia’s hostile actions. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in a statement that the UK has imposed new sanctions on more than 100 ships accused of transporting Russian oil despite international sanctions. The UK government said in a press release that the tankers have transported more than 18 billion pounds of Russian crude since the beginning of 2024. The move violates restrictions imposed on Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The new UK sanctions package also targets ships and boats accused of damaging critical underwater infrastructure. Blocklisted tankers are banned from British ports. If the sanctioned tankers enter British waters, they risk being seized. Similar measures were imposed on the Kremlin at the Joint Expeditionary Force meeting in December 2024.
Russia’s attempt to create a shadow fleet
Russia has tried to circumvent these economic sanctions by creating a “shadow fleet” of tankers, often worn-out vessels with unclear ownership and insurance. Speaking ahead of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) meeting in Oslo, Starmer stressed that this move would put further pressure on Moscow. He said, “The threat from Russia to our national security cannot be underestimated.” That is why we will do everything in our power to destroy his shadow fleet operations, deprive his war machine of oil revenues, and protect the subsurface infrastructure on which we depend for our daily lives.
Britain’s readiness for war with Russia as tensions continue
The Telegraph announced in an alarming report that Britain is secretly preparing for a scenario of a direct military attack by Russia. The report was published while senior military and security officials warned that Britain was not ready for a full-scale conflict on its soil. According to the Telegraph, defence experts believe that Britain’s military capabilities against Russia and its allies will be limited and inadequate in the event of war. The report states that Britain’s equipment, infrastructure, and defence systems have not been modernised for years. Therefore, the British army is not ready to deal with modern threats.
Britain is vulnerable to a potential war with Russia.
The UK is vulnerable to targeted attacks on its vital infrastructure, such as gas terminals, submarine cables, nuclear power plants, and transport hubs. Analysts believe Russia could exploit these weaknesses to disrupt the country in a crisis. While officials have yet to publicly confirm the report, the Daily Telegraph has reported that defence plans are undergoing a significant review to strengthen the ability to respond quickly to external threats. The revelations come when the international security environment is tense, and concerns about a broader European conflict have increased.
Britain’s weak position towards Russia: The British are victims of Starmer’s excesses
After the war in Ukraine and the pioneering actions of the UK government against Russia in imposing sanctions on the country and related individuals, freezing its assets, and being a pioneer in sending offensive and long-range weapons, including long-range missiles and tanks, Russia’s relations with the UK have significantly deteriorated. Analysts say Britain’s hostile policies toward Russia have come at a heavy economic and security cost to the British people. Pursuing hostile policies has undermined opportunities for peace and widened global geopolitical divides. In the meantime, there is even the possibility of war. Many believe that the UK is unable to confront Russia and is highly vulnerable to possible Russian attacks. On the other hand, the UK government is not only not taking action to reduce tensions but has also increased Russia-UK hostile ties in 2025.
