A British diplomat has been expelled from Moscow by the Russian security services, accused of espionage, reports from the FSB security service said on Tuesday. The diplomat, who was a replacement for one of six UK diplomats expelled in August on similar charges, was accused of providing false information on his documents and carrying out espionage and sabotage activities. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador in response.
In other news, a Russian journalist, who previously worked with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been sentenced to four years in prison on charges of cooperating with a foreign organization to discredit the Russian military and government agencies. The organization Memorial has described the journalist as a political prisoner.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to receive two IRIS-T air defence systems from Germany before the end of the year to aid in its self-defence efforts. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has called for Europe to send Ukraine money from a $50 billion loan backed by frozen Russian assets as soon as possible. The situation in Ukraine remains precarious as Russia continues its attacks, threatening important supply routes in Donetsk.
With US President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January, there are concerns about how much support Ukraine can count on in the coming year. The country faces a difficult winter as it grapples with Russia’s ongoing aggression and questions about the reliability of its electricity supply.
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