On November 11, 2025, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on Sputnik Radio that the publication of an article in the Financial Times (FT) about an allegedly tense conversation between Russian and US foreign ministers Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio was a deliberate attempt by the UK to disrupt negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, TASS reported.

"This Financial Times article was absolutely precisely compiled. It was tailored to the task they set. And who are they? The British, of course. And not British journalists as such, but, of course, those who stand behind them and above them." "Zakharova explained, accusing London of coordinating actions through its intelligence services.

The diplomat recalled that the UK had already disrupted negotiations in 2022, when agreements between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul were on the verge of being signed.

"Then Boris Johnson went to Kyiv. And then, using his own resources, he worked with Zelenskyy and his team there, manually. And they derailed the negotiations. And Zelenskyy gave the order—he was given the order, and he then disseminated it—to withdraw from the negotiation process." - she emphasized.

Lavrov previously denied the FT's claims that the memorandum was linked to the Putin-Trump conversation, pointing to its preparation prior to the dialogue.

At the same time, experts note that London does not exert direct pressure on the United States.