UK Minister for Europe Stephen Doughty said in an interview that London draws a clear distinction between the Russian authorities and Russian society. According to him, Britain’s disagreement is not with the people of Russia, but with Vladimir Putin’s regime, its policy toward European countries, and the war against Ukraine.
Doughty said reports that Moscow plans to spend 1.5 billion euros on an information war against the West are based in part on published Russian statistics. He said the UK and its partners are working to identify disinformation campaigns, determine the structures and individuals behind them, and impose sanctions on organizations linked to such operations. He said the purpose of that work is to ensure public access to accurate information.
“Our disagreements and disputes are not with the Russian people, but with the Russian regime and with President Putin,” the minister said.
Asked about hybrid attacks, Doughty said London sees its obligations under NATO Article 5 as firm and unconditional. He said Britain is confronting a broad range of threats, including sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and risks to critical infrastructure. He added that the country is working with Baltic allies through the Nordic Warden and Baltic Sentry mechanisms, while also focusing on stronger security in the Arctic.
Speaking about the United States, the minister described Washington as Britain’s main partner in defense and security and welcomed President Donald Trump’s efforts to seek a peaceful settlement to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, he stressed that Ukraine and Europe must be central to discussions about the country’s future, and that Ukraine must retain the ability to defend itself and deter renewed aggression.
Doughty said he has visited Ukraine many times since the start of the full-scale invasion and has seen the consequences of attacks firsthand, including recent strikes on a train and on civilians. He also referred to meetings with young people taken out of the country and subjected to forced “re-education.” In his view, those responsible for such crimes must be held accountable.
Commenting on possible future relations with Moscow, the minister said the British embassy remains open in the Russian capital to preserve channels of communication. However, he described bilateral ties as being in an extremely difficult state and said this is primarily due to Putin and his regime, not Russian citizens. As examples of hostile acts against the UK, he again cited the 2018 Salisbury poisoning and other incidents.