A top Russian official has launched a furious verbal assault on Sir Keir Starmer, branding the British Prime Minister 'illiterate' and 'a fool' over his support for a potential future deployment of UK forces to Ukraine.
Rogozin's Fiery Threat Over Troop Declaration
The extraordinary comments came from Dmitry Rogozin, a prominent senator and former head of Russia's space agency, following Sir Keir's signing of a declaration of intent in Paris on Tuesday. The document, agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, outlines plans for allied troop deployment should a future peace deal be reached.
Rogozin claimed the suggestion would leave the UK open to Russian missile strikes. He invoked historical conflict, stating: 'Even after Russia's defeat in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, such thoughts never occurred to England, France, or the Turks and Sardinians.' He added a stark threat: 'He should still understand what we will do to their shi*** kingdom if they actually try to implement this nonsense.'
Starmer's Parliamentary Assurance and US Talks
Responding to the escalating rhetoric, Sir Keir Starmer addressed the UK Parliament on Wednesday to provide clarification. He assured MPs that any deployment of British troops under the declaration would be subject to a full parliamentary vote.
'I will keep the house updated as the situation develops, and were troops to be deployed under the declaration signed, I would put that matter to the house for a vote,' the Prime Minister stated. He confirmed that the scale of any potential deployment would be determined by UK military plans currently being drafted.
Starmer also revealed he had discussed security guarantees for Ukraine twice over Christmas with US President Donald Trump, emphasising there was 'no question of acting on this without full discussion with the Americans'.
Putin's 'Divine Mandate' and Ongoing Attacks
The diplomatic spat unfolded against a backdrop of continued Russian aggression. On January 7, the date the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas, President Vladimir Putin made a striking claim, framing the war as a sacred mission. 'The soldiers of Russia, always, as if on the Lord's orders, fulfil this very mission - the defence of the Fatherland,' he declared during a midnight service.
This claim of a divine mandate is seen as a clear signal that Putin has no intention of halting the conflict. Overnight attacks on Ukraine continued, with strikes on residential buildings, schools, and kindergartens. In Dnipro, seven people were injured, including two girls aged eight and 16. Further attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region wounded more children.
The sustained Russian missile and drone campaign has crippled Ukrainian infrastructure, with hospitals in Lviv disconnected from electricity due to power shortages. In a retaliatory move, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck an oil plant in Russia's Belgorod border region, causing a major fire at the Stary Oskol facility.
