Neither Vladimir Putin nor any Russian leader or representative will be present next Monday under the vaults of Westminster Abbey in London for the official funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The PA Media news agency, which collects various titles from the British press, announced it on Tuesday, citing the government.
However, Russia will not be the only one to be persona non grata: The Belarus of dictator Alexander Lukashenko is also not invited.
If the absence of Russia and its Belarusian ally can be read as a retaliatory measure for the invasion of Ukraine, there is a more surprising boycott, that of Myanmar. But the former Burma is also an autocratic regime, run by a military junta that toppled the democratically elected government a few weeks earlier, about a year ago.
Putin took the initiative
Vladimir Putin had taken the initiative upstream of this diplomatic snub. Since last Friday, his spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, effectively declared to the press that “the option of a trip was not considered.”
Apart from the fact that Ukraine’s aggression has put the Kremlin under the ban of the nations since the end of February – the United Kingdom, moreover, has been particularly firm in its opposition to Russian policy and its support for Kiev – the turn of the conflict in any case, is not likely to encourage this type of travel.
Russian forces are currently on the defensive in Ukraine, driven back by their adversary’s counteroffensive, and this withdrawal is plunging Vladimir Putin into deep embarrassment.
500 official guests
Even without Russia, the British executive should have no problem filling the abbey bays. On Monday, 500 heads of state and government are expected for what the government announces as “the largest international event in decades.”
It should be noted that each of these official guests may be accompanied by one guest, but not one more. Local authorities have also set the rules for their British stay, recommending that they go there on commercial flights and favoring public transport in London.
Source: BFM TV
