The Evolution of Britain's Approach to Crisis in Ukraine and UK–Russia Relations

This paper represents the second part of the previously published article. It covers Great Britain's role in generating of a consolidated international view on Russia's influence on the Ukrainian crisis during Petr Poroshenko's presidency (2014–2015), further explores the worsening of bilateral relations between the UK and Russia in a wide context of antagonism between the US and Russia. The author also investigates Britain's role in imposing of the gravest economic sanctions on Russian economy after the Malaysian aircraft crush, and their impact on the Western countries' economies, especially on the British economy key industries. The attention is given to popularity of Vladimir Putin and his policy in Russian society and business community, which rose after the introducing of western sanctions. The article examines the damage done to cooperation between Russian and British business by deterioration in bilateral political relations. Assessing the scope of this damage, the author notes that for quite a long time Britain disinclined to start a new Cold War with Russia. The author further scrutinizes the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on strengthening of Anglo-American “special relations”, on the revival of the NATO's strategic task of being a tool to hamper Russia's influence in the world: for this purpose joint military exercises in the Baltic region were organized, and special NATO Response Force was created. The main questions raised in this research are: when can the UK–Russia relations become better again, and what can help improve the relationship between two countries?