The Kremlin could be set to test the UK and its NATO allies in the coming months, with intelligence suggesting Putin will try to test Andy Burnham’s new government while Donald Trump’s attention is focused on Iran.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the Daily Mail .

A new challenge for the Alliance: why now?

The intelligence services note that the Kremlin seeks to exploit any hesitation or divergence in Britain’s position that may arise after Andy Burnham replaces Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

“There is now a strong belief that Putin is preparing some form of direct confrontation with NATO within the next two months. This is influenced by several factors – the belief that Trump has become distracted by Iran, and signs of a split among the Ukrainian leadership,” the publication’s sources claim.

“Shadow Fleet” maneuvers and provocations off British coasts

In addition, it is noted that Moscow is already exhausting the resources of the United Kingdom . After the recent interception of a Russian tanker by British marines, the Russian Federation has changed the routes of its “shadow fleet”. Now ships with sanctioned oil bypass the English Channel and head into the Atlantic through the northern waters near the Shetland Islands. In parallel, the Kremlin is resorting to a show of force: on the day Andy Burnham took office as Prime Minister, a Russian frigate conducted live fire just 46 miles from Plymouth.

The situation at the front is pushing the Kremlin towards escalation

Sources emphasize that Putin’s own frustration with the course of the war in Ukraine is also a factor.

“There is a feeling that if he cannot somehow change the dynamics on the battlefield, the war will be lost,” the source said, adding that the change of government in Britain would also push the Russian president to “test” Burnham and try to exploit possible differences between the old and new administrations.

What preceded it?

• Recall that on June 22, Keir Starmer announced that he was resigning as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• On Monday, July 20, King Charles III of the United Kingdom officially appointed Andy Burnham as Prime Minister following his election as leader of the Labour Party last week. Джерело: https://censor.net/ua/n4015390
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