Kremlin dismisses UK leadership change as path to better ties with Moscow

Dmitry Peskov says Keir Starmer's resignation won't reset relations, underscoring the structural freeze between London and Moscow regardless of Westminster's political turnover.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-06-22 12:47 UTC · 1 min read

The Kremlin has dismissed the prospect that the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will lead to an improvement in relations with Moscow.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday that the change in British leadership is unlikely to alter the fundamental trajectory of ties between the two nations.

The comment comes as Starmer confirmed his departure from Downing Street and his role as leader of the Labour Party.

Reports indicate the outgoing leader may remain in a lesser capacity, though he is not expected to disrupt broader policy frameworks, including those related to international financial appointments.

For markets, the Kremlin's stance reinforces the view that geopolitical risk between Russia and the UK remains structurally elevated, independent of short-term political transitions in London.

Investors monitoring UK-Russia exposure should expect continuity in sanctions regimes and diplomatic friction rather than a thaw driven by the change in government.