Putin removes Russian ambassadors to Britain and France, cites strained ties

Russia’s diplomatic corps saw two senior changes this week. President Vladimir Putin terminated Andrei Kelin’s tenure as ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland on September 25, ending a six-year posting that began in 2019. A day earlier, he also removed Alexey Meshkov from his role as ambassador to France, where he had been stationed since 2017.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Telegram channel Vy Slushali that the lack of functional relations with both countries removes any pressure to fill the vacancies quickly, and that the appointment process may take time. The dismissals underscore the ongoing diplomatic chill between Moscow and both London and Paris. No immediate replacements have been announced, and the Kremlin indicated that the posts may remain vacant for an extended period.