The Approach to Russia for a Post-Brexit UK

Whilst the UK and Russia lack a common border, they nevertheless have a long history of interaction, often tense or hostile in nature, dating back as far as the imperial era when interests clashed over the Ottoman Empire and India. Following the Second World War, having fought alongside the Soviets from 1941, the UK became a key ally of the USA in the Cold War. Its end with collapse of the Soviet Union was a moment of optimism for a renewed relationship with Russia, but regrettably the difficulties soon returned. The UK has frequently objected to Russian intelligence activities, as well as being critical of its human rights record, an increasingly authoritarian political system and hostile activity in its region. The Litvinenko (2006) and Skripal (2018) poisonings were particularly harmful to relations.