Representatives of Great Britain conducted secret negotiations with Russia against the backdrop of the background in Ukraine, British media claim

Over the past 18 months, British officials have held secret diplomatic meetings with Kremlin officials on global security issues amid the war, Sky News reports, citing “The I” , a supplement to The Independent newspaper.

According to the newspaper, the negotiations would not be aimed at a diplomatic settlement of the war on the territory of Ukraine. The information was confirmed by a senior British diplomat who participated in some of these meetings.

“We remain in contact and believe that it is very important to maintain an open dialogue during the war in Ukraine. We are not dividing parts of the country in any way or entering into peace agreements on anyone’s behalf but it is vital to keep this line of contact open,” he added.

A British Foreign Office spokesman told the newspaper that meetings with officials did take place but only when they were “absolutely necessary.”