Blinken has accused Putin of committing “aggression” in Ukraine and demanded he be held to account for it, while Lavrov said the US and its allies are victims of "Russophobia."

Britain is set to sanction Kremlin-linked businesses and individuals if Russia moves ahead with any military action against Ukraine.

Russia has accused the United States of "cultivating Russophobia" among like-minded countries, saying Ukraine has been "flooded" with weapons from Washington and NATO as well as "countless" advisers from the West, amid claims that Moscow is preparing to invade its neighboring country.

Russia has long been accused of interfering in the political affairs of the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies. As it turns out, the United Kingdom has been doing precisely that to Russia.