UK and Russia: A Bumpy Ride Through the Years

Early Diplomatic Efforts

• 2000: Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, visits Vladimir Putin before his presidency.
• Later 2000: Putin visits London, meets with Blair and Queen Elizabeth.

Escalating Tensions

• 2006:
• Russia accuses the UK of spying via a fake rock.

• Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy, dies after drinking tea laced with polonium-210. He blames Putin before his death.

• 2007:
• British prosecutors accuse Andrei Lugovoy of poisoning Litvinenko.
• Russia denies involvement, refuses to extradite Lugovoy.

• Both countries expel four diplomats each.

• 2010: Tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats accused of spying.

• 2011: David Cameron visits Russia to improve relations.

• 2012: Cameron and Putin watch judo together at the Olympic Games in London.

Litvinenko Inquiry

• 2013: UK rejects a public inquiry into Litvinenko's death.
• 2014: UK changes mind, decides to hold an inquiry.
• 2016: Inquiry concludes Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun killed Litvinenko with Putin's approval.

Further Incidents

• 2018:
• Sergei and Yulia Skripal found unconscious in Salisbury.
• UK accuses Russia of poisoning them with Novichok.

• Russia denies involvement.

• 2022:
• UK supports Ukraine after Russia's invasion.

• Provides military support, imposes sanctions.

• 2024:
• UK expels Russia's defense attache, removes diplomatic status from properties.

• Russia responds by expelling UK's defense attache, revoking accreditation of six UK diplomats.

• 2025:
• Bulgarians convicted in London of being part of a Russian spying network.
• Russia expels two more British diplomats.
• Britons convicted of arson attack on Ukrainian business, allegedly at the behest of Russia's Wagner group.