Theresa May sends letter of condolence to Putin over Russian shopping centre fire

Theresa May and Vladimir Putin at a meeting in 2017 (Getty)

Theresa May has sent a letter of condolence to Vladimir Putin after the deaths of 64 people in a shopping centre fire in Siberia.

The British Embassy in Moscow published a copy of the letter on its Facebook page.

It says: “Dear President Putin, I am writing to express my condolences following the tragedy at the Winter Cherry shopping complex in Kemerovo.

“The thoughts and prayers of the British people are with the families who have lost loved ones in such terrible circumstances.”

The prime minister’s letter comes as the West’s relationship with Moscow has reached a crisis point, with over 24 countries around the world expelling diplomats in response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in Wiltshire.

The unprecedented international response saw 60 Russian diplomats expelled from the United States. The UK has expelled 23, while Ukraine has said it has expelled 13. Germany, France and Poland have expelled four each. Moldova, the Czech Republic and Lithuania have each expelled three.

Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Albania and Australia have expelled two from each country, while Hungary, Sweden, Croatia, Romania, Finland, Estonia, Ireland and Latvia have all expelled one Russian diplomat.

In addition, Nato has withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to Nato, and said it was part of a “broad, strong and coordinated international response.”

Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg said: “This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behaviour. And it follows Russia’s lack of constructive response to what happened in Salisbury.

“Our actions reflect the serious security concerns expressed by all Allies, and are part of the coordinated international effort to respond to Russia’s behaviour.”

Theresa May said the international reaction “has demonstrated to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security”.

She added: “It is also important to note that our partners are not only taking these measures out of solidarity with the UK, but also because they recognise the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of Russian aggression which has affected us all.”

Mr Skripal and his daughter remain critically ill in hospital following their poisoning.