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| Rishi Sunak concerned over volatile Russia situation | Rishi Sunak concerned over volatile Russia situation |
| (4 months later) | |
| Watch: All sides should be responsible and protect civilians - UK PM | Watch: All sides should be responsible and protect civilians - UK PM |
| Watch: All sides should be responsible and protect civilians - UK PM | Watch: All sides should be responsible and protect civilians - UK PM |
| Rishi Sunak has urged all sides in Russia to "be responsible and to protect civilians", as mercenaries from the Wagner group seize military sites from Russia and Vladimir Putin vows to "punish" those involved in the move against his government. | Rishi Sunak has urged all sides in Russia to "be responsible and to protect civilians", as mercenaries from the Wagner group seize military sites from Russia and Vladimir Putin vows to "punish" those involved in the move against his government. |
| In the UK, a meeting of the emergency committee, Cobra, was chaired by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Saturday afternoon. | In the UK, a meeting of the emergency committee, Cobra, was chaired by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Saturday afternoon. |
| We don't get to hear much about what is said in those meetings, but the government says Mr Cleverly received all the latest information and particular attention was paid to the situation of British nationals still in Russia. | We don't get to hear much about what is said in those meetings, but the government says Mr Cleverly received all the latest information and particular attention was paid to the situation of British nationals still in Russia. |
| Mr Sunak has also spoken to US President Biden, French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz about the situation. | Mr Sunak has also spoken to US President Biden, French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz about the situation. |
| Speaking exclusively to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Sunak suggested the government has been watching the internal threats to Vladimir Putin for some time. | Speaking exclusively to Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Sunak suggested the government has been watching the internal threats to Vladimir Putin for some time. |
| He told me: "We have been monitoring for a while the potentially destabilising impacts of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine." | He told me: "We have been monitoring for a while the potentially destabilising impacts of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine." |
| And he said the situation was "evolving on the ground as we speak". | And he said the situation was "evolving on the ground as we speak". |
| But he urged calm on all sides, saying: "The most important thing I'd say is for all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians", a clear hint that the UK is concerned about how conflict inside Russia's borders could spiral, when for months the focus has naturally been on fighting in Ukraine. | But he urged calm on all sides, saying: "The most important thing I'd say is for all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians", a clear hint that the UK is concerned about how conflict inside Russia's borders could spiral, when for months the focus has naturally been on fighting in Ukraine. |
| Live: Latest updates as mercenaries seize Russian sites | Live: Latest updates as mercenaries seize Russian sites |
| Live: Latest updates as mercenaries seize Russian sites | Live: Latest updates as mercenaries seize Russian sites |
| Putin under pressure as ally turns rebel | Putin under pressure as ally turns rebel |
| Putin under pressure as ally turns rebel | Putin under pressure as ally turns rebel |
| Is this a coup? What is Prigozhin doing in Russia? | Is this a coup? What is Prigozhin doing in Russia? |
| Is this a coup? What is Prigozhin doing in Russia? | Is this a coup? What is Prigozhin doing in Russia? |
| The prime minister did not repeat a more candid assessment from the Ministry of Defence, which said on its official Twitter feed that "this represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times". | The prime minister did not repeat a more candid assessment from the Ministry of Defence, which said on its official Twitter feed that "this represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times". |
| But Mr Sunak did not deny that was the case. | But Mr Sunak did not deny that was the case. |
| With so much unclear, it is evident that Number 10 does not yet want to give an official verdict on what is happening. | With so much unclear, it is evident that Number 10 does not yet want to give an official verdict on what is happening. |
| Yet it is clear from the Ministry of Defence's comments that the government sees the action taking place as a potential game changer. | Yet it is clear from the Ministry of Defence's comments that the government sees the action taking place as a potential game changer. |
| Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC News and streaming from 09:00 BST this Sunday, 25 June | Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC News and streaming from 09:00 BST this Sunday, 25 June |
| Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC News and streaming from 09:00 BST this Sunday, 25 June | Watch live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC News and streaming from 09:00 BST this Sunday, 25 June |
| On this week's show are Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy | On this week's show are Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy |
| On this week's show are Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy | On this week's show are Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour's shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy |
| Follows latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:00 | Follows latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:00 |
| Follows latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:00 | Follows latest updates in text and video on the BBC News website from 08:00 |
| The situation is volatile and no-one in Westminster would predict with any certainty what will happen next. | The situation is volatile and no-one in Westminster would predict with any certainty what will happen next. |
| It is not clear exactly what Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's motives are. | It is not clear exactly what Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's motives are. |
| Nor is it certain how many resources and men Wagner really has at their disposal. | Nor is it certain how many resources and men Wagner really has at their disposal. |
| But one of the questions being asked in Westminster this afternoon is how Ukraine can make the most of what seems like disarray inside Russia to make progress in what is now a long-running conflict. | But one of the questions being asked in Westminster this afternoon is how Ukraine can make the most of what seems like disarray inside Russia to make progress in what is now a long-running conflict. |
| Our politicians, like the rest of us, are watching events and wondering what on earth is going on, and unable to be sure what will happen next. But they are watching with eager attention. | Our politicians, like the rest of us, are watching events and wondering what on earth is going on, and unable to be sure what will happen next. But they are watching with eager attention. |
| The war in Ukraine has had such enormous implications for politicians in the UK, because it has indirectly affected every family, every firm, and every household in the country by driving up the cost of energy. | The war in Ukraine has had such enormous implications for politicians in the UK, because it has indirectly affected every family, every firm, and every household in the country by driving up the cost of energy. |
| That's one of the biggest factors in high inflation the prime minister describes as the "number one enemy". | That's one of the biggest factors in high inflation the prime minister describes as the "number one enemy". |
| We talk to the prime minister about that, his plans for the NHS and Boris Johnson in an exclusive interview you can watch on Sunday morning. | We talk to the prime minister about that, his plans for the NHS and Boris Johnson in an exclusive interview you can watch on Sunday morning. |
| But as events unfold in Russia, remember that the actions of one man, Vladimir Putin, upended so much here. | But as events unfold in Russia, remember that the actions of one man, Vladimir Putin, upended so much here. |
| Moscow may be nearly 2,000 miles away, but what happens in the next few days to stability in Russia matters hugely to our politicians in Westminster, and to us all. | Moscow may be nearly 2,000 miles away, but what happens in the next few days to stability in Russia matters hugely to our politicians in Westminster, and to us all. |
| More from Laura Kuenssberg | More from Laura Kuenssberg |
| Johnson's super fans, never fans and only (while useful) fans | Johnson's super fans, never fans and only (while useful) fans |
| Johnson's super fans, never fans and only (while useful) fans | Johnson's super fans, never fans and only (while useful) fans |
| Russia envoy in warning of escalation in Ukraine | Russia envoy in warning of escalation in Ukraine |
| Russia envoy in warning of escalation in Ukraine | Russia envoy in warning of escalation in Ukraine |
| Rishi Sunak can't escape past Tory horrors | Rishi Sunak can't escape past Tory horrors |
| Rishi Sunak can't escape past Tory horrors | Rishi Sunak can't escape past Tory horrors |
| Related topics | |
| War in Ukraine | War in Ukraine |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |