UK PM Theresa May at G20 summit calls on Putin to release Ukrainian sailors

UK Prime Minister Theresa May held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Japan's Osaka on June 28.

May called on the Russian president to release the 24 Ukrainian sailors, according to a readout of the meeting, published on the website of the Office of the British Prime Minister.

“She said that Russia’s actions in Ukraine are deeply concerning and that for any progress to be made there needs to be a deescalation in the conflict and the release of the 24 Ukrainian servicemen whose vessels were forcibly seized in the Black Sea,“ the report says.

May also told Putin that there cannot be a normalisation of bilateral relationship until Russia stops the irresponsible and destabilising activity that threatens the UK and its allies - including hostile interventions in other countries, disinformation and cyber attacks – which undermine Russia’s standing in the world.

The prime minister underlined that “we remain open to a different relationship, but for that to happen the Russian government must choose a different path.“

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