Russia expressed concern on Friday regarding the potential deployment of British military assets in Ukraine as part of a new century-long partnership agreement between Kyiv and London. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed inquiries about the possibility of the UK establishing military bases in Ukraine, following the announcement made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Peskov remarked, “As Britain is a NATO member, the expansion of its military infrastructure towards our borders is certainly a significant concern. We will need to further assess the implications of this development.” During discussions in Kyiv on Thursday, Zelenskiy mentioned his conversation with Starmer about Ukraine’s interest in having Western peacekeeping forces deployed in the country if the conflict with Russia were to conclude.

When asked about the UK’s potential contribution of troops, Starmer indicated in an interview with Sky News that he had engaged in discussions with Zelenskiy and other allies, affirming that Britain would “play our full part.” Peskov also conveyed Moscow’s unfavorable stance regarding British collaboration with Ukraine in the Sea of Azov, which he referred to as Russia’s “internal sea.” The Azov Sea is bordered by southwestern Russia, regions of southern Ukraine currently under Russian control, and the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow from Ukraine in 2014.