In a stunning revelation that lays bare the extreme tensions at the heart of the Ukraine conflict, the former head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service has disclosed a direct and chilling missile threat made by Vladimir Putin against the United Kingdom.
Sir Richard Moore, who served as Chief of MI6 until recently, detailed the extraordinary confrontation that occurred during high-stakes talks in Istanbul in the latter part of 2022. The discussions, aimed at brokering a peace deal, took a sinister turn when the Russian leader issued an ultimatum.
The threat was stark and unambiguous: if the UK continued its military support for Ukraine, providing weapons that could strike deep within Russian territory, Britain itself would become a target for a Russian missile attack.
Sir Richard, speaking on the BBC's Today podcast, described the moment this message was relayed to him. It was delivered not by Putin himself in the room, but through his intermediaries, the Russian defence minister and the chief of the general staff. This indirect method of communication is seen by analysts as a deliberate tactic, allowing the Russian president to issue dire warnings while maintaining a thin veneer of plausible deniability.
A Calculated Act of Intimidation
This revelation is not being interpreted as a genuine warning of an imminent attack. Instead, security experts and the Foreign Office view it as a calculated act of intimidation, a desperate attempt to weaken Western resolve and slow the critical flow of arms to a besieged Ukraine.
The threat ultimately failed in its objective. The UK government, under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, did not waver. The supply of British weapons continued, a move that Sir Richard and other officials believe was a crucial factor in allowing Ukraine to mount a robust defence against the Russian invasion.
The disclosure sheds new light on the immense pressure applied behind the scenes by the Kremlin and underscores the high-risk diplomatic game being played throughout the war. It highlights the lengths to which Putin was willing to go to try and fracture the unity of NATO and its allies.
Context of a Faltering Invasion
This threat emerged at a critical juncture in the war. Russia's initial plan for a swift victory had stalled, met with fierce and unexpected resistance from Ukrainian forces bolstered by Western support. The meeting in Istanbul was one of the most significant attempts to negotiate a ceasefire, but it ultimately collapsed.
Sir Richard's account provides a rare glimpse into the kind of aggressive rhetoric and nuclear sabre-rattling that has characterised private communications from the Kremlin. It serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing high stakes in a conflict that continues to shape global security.
