Lord Alton of Liverpool has said calm needs to be introduced into UK-Russian relations, but added that there is no reason why Britain’s recent short-term toxic relationship with Russia should break into an open conflict.
His comment comes amid warnings that the current climate could result in “the last war in the history of mankind”.
“Clearly our short-term relationship with Russia is tense and increasingly toxic,” Lord Alton told The Universe, as he discussed the expulsion of Russian officials from a number of Western capitals. However, diplomatic relations had not been severed and it is in everyone’s interests to keep open channels of communication.
Describing the UK’s response as “measured and proportionate”, Lord Alton explained that to do nothing would have been “to acquiesce in attempted murder”.
“There is always a risk of full-blown conflict and there are echoes of the Cold War – but that didn’t ultimately end in a ‘hot war’ and there is no reason why this should either,” added Lord Alton. “One issue which could bring us closer would be a new attempt to secure Russian involvement in securing peace in Syria.”
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Picture: File photo from 2nd August 2012 of Russian President Vladimir Putin leaving 10 Downing Street in London, following a meeting with then-Prime Minister David Cameron. (Stefan Rousseau/PA).
