Russian ambassador warns UK and US that 'imminent' WW3 is on the way

Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, said Britan's support for Ukraine could result in 'a collision between nuclear powers' - following earlier warnings of a serious escalation

Britain’s military aid to Ukraine could result in a “collision between nuclear powers”, says Russia's ambassador to the UK - as he threatened World War 3 was now imminent.

Ambassador Andrey Kelin took to Telegram warning British support would "seriously escalate" the already grave situation. He said: "We have made multiple warnings that [the use of Western] missiles to strike inside Russia will be a serious escalation. Despite these warnings, the US administration supported by France and the UK has made a deliberate decision to carry out these strikes.

"This seriously escalates the situation and can lead to a collision between the nuclear powers."

This week, the Kremlin implied it was “entitled” to fire "military targets of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities”. The message hinted at Western aid following the US supporting Kyiv’s use of ATACMS missiles against Russian and North Korean forces in Russia.

A new Oreshnik hypersonic missile which was launched by Russia on Dnipro in Ukraine this week was said to have the capability of reaching the UK in just 20 minutes. Putin ordered the mass production of the "unstoppable" missile, which is thought to be a revamping of an old Cold War intercontinental RS-26 Rubezh missile.

The Russian leader said: "There is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today. And I will emphasise once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production."

As fears of an all-out war continue to grow, Ambassador Kelin told Sky News that Britain was now "directly involved" in Russia's war on Ukraine after its Storm Shadow missiles were reportedly used to hit Russian targets. British long-range missiles were allegedly greenlit for use, and then deployed after the US approved for Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles.

Ambassador Kelin said: "Absolutely, Britain and UK is now directly involved in this war, because this firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well.

"The US administration, support[ed] by France and the UK, has made a deliberate decision to make these strikes, which seriously escalates the situation, and it can bring a collision between the nuclear powers."