Russia’s Lavrov questions future of UK amid independence debate

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has questioned what will happen to the United Kingdom, citing calls for independence referendums involving Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Lavrov made the remarks at a youth conference, according to the BBC, and said he did not know what would become of Great Britain. He also suggested that the influence of Western countries in the United Nations Security Council had become excessive.

He referred to the Celts as seeking referendums and noted that Britain’s global influence had declined since it took its permanent seat on the Security Council. The body’s five permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. His comments came weeks after the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland signed an agreement saying Westminster had no right to block democracy.

The three leaders had met at the Welsh Senedd earlier in the month. Plaid Cymru said Wales’s constitutional future was a matter for the Welsh people and not for the Kremlin to endorse, oppose or exploit. The party described Russia as a threat to modern democracy and said nations should be able to determine their futures through democratic means.

The party also connected that position with support for Ukraine’s right to determine its future. Stephen Gethins, Scotland’s external affairs minister, said the Scottish Government supported the democratic right of Scotland’s people to decide their constitutional future. The supplied material says the largest party in each of the three devolved parliaments is now pro-independence for the first time since devolution began.

It also says Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has not set a timetable for a referendum, although he has said there is no turning back on the independence journey.