Criticising Putin without US support is a dangerous move, making the UK a target for the Kremlin's malign forces

Until Salisbury, Britain had been careful not to antagonise the Kremlin, but Jeremy Hunt's new aggressive position against Russia could have worrying consequences

Britain's new foreign policy of publicly calling out the Russians whenever they step out of line has caught the Kremlin off guard, but it may come back to bite us.

By bravely sicking our heads above the parapet we make ourselves a bigger target.

Brexit and the election of Donald Trump has left the UK looking vulnerable on the world stage, encouraging the Kremlin in its attempts to isolate Britain from the EU and America.

The Salisbury affair and a succession of Russian-sponsored cyberattacks have already tested the unity of the West. So far the response from the EU and America has been to circle the wagons, defiantly challenging Russia's aggression.

But as we head for the EU exit door, and relations between Brussels and Westminster become more and more strained, how long will be able to count on the unqualified support of countries like Germany which favour a more passive response to Russian hostility? Similarly, Trump's increasingly murky and quixotic relationship with Vladamir Putin means the special relationship may not be as reliable as it has been in the past.

Until Salisbury, Britain had been careful not to antagonise the Kremlin by going public with individual cases of cyberespionage or foreign spy operations. The warnings of Russian aggression have tended to be of a more general nature. But the Kremlin's blundering in the aftermath of the failed assassination of Sergei Skripal was spectacularly exploited by the British security services. Publishing pictures of the two men working for Russian military intelligence, GRU, forced the Kremlin into making more mistakes. The subsequent decision to force the two suspects to appear on Russian TV to deny their involvement resulted in worldwide ridicule and handed the UK a propaganda victory.

It also showed Britain's spy chiefs that counter-espionage operations need not be conducted in the shadows. By going public with any evidence of Kremlin aggression it was possible to put the Russians on the back foot.

Jeremy Hunt has calculated that it no longer serves British interests to restrict the UK displeasure to frosty communiques and private dressing downs of the Russian ambassador.

Today four more Russian agents were named and pictured in a joint operation involving Dutch and British intelligence agencies.

Defence Minister Ank Bijleveld said it had thwarted the Russian plot and expelled the four GRU officers.

Hours earlier, in a coordinated move, Hunt said the GRU was waging a campaign of “indiscriminate and reckless” cyberstrikes targeting political institutions, businesses, media and sport.

Britain's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that a number of hackers known to have launched attacks have now been linked to the GRU.

Among the targets of the GRU attacks were the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), transport systems in Ukraine and democratic elections, such as the 2016 US presidential race.

Hunt said: “These cyber attacks serve no legitimate national security interest, instead impacting the ability of people around the world to go about their daily lives free from interference, and even their ability to enjoy sport.” In a strongly worded rebuke, he added: “Our message is clear: together with our allies, we will expose and respond to the GRU's attempts to undermine international stability.”

Hunt has received support from the EU and America for taking such an aggressive position against Russia. But it may be a policy that has short-lived success. Putin and his spymasters will have learnt the lessons well. It's not in the Kremlin's nature to forgive or forget. And as Britain searches for a new place in the world order, Russia will be waiting to pounce.