Thursday 22 March 2018 15:17, UK
Russia's ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, has assured England fans they will be safe at the World Cup this summer despite the current political hostility between the two countries.
Relations between Russia and the UK are strained in the wake of the alleged poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, and British Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that no ministers or members of the Royal Family will attend the World Cup.
Concerns have been raised for the safety of travelling England supporters this summer, after violent clashes between Russian and English fans marred Euro 2016 in France.
However, Yakovenko insists every measure will be taken to keep visiting supporters safe at the upcoming tournament.
"First of all I'll be happy to welcome all the fans, they will be safe in Russia," he said.
"All the necessary measures are being taken and the British special authorities are in contact with the Russian special authorities to provide the security, for the fans and all the British who will be in the territory of Russia.
"Basically we're confident and we will be happy to welcome everybody."
British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, stoked tensions on Wednesday after agreeing with a Labour MP's comparison that Vladimir Putin will use Russia's World Cup "like Hitler used the Olympics in 1936".
Johnson's comments were labelled "insulting and unacceptable" by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday and Yakovenko also refused to accept to comparison.
"The British government is free to make a decision about it's participation in the World Cup, but nobody has the right to insult the Russian people who defeated Naziism and lost more than 25 million people by comparing our country to Nazi Germany," he said.
