Russia weighs diplomatic downgrade with west amid Ukraine conflict

The Russian government is contemplating the downgrading of diplomatic ties with Western nations, according to a statement made by the Kremlin on Thursday.
This, the Kremlin said, is a result of the increasing engagement of the United States and its allies in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, no final decision has been reached at this time.
Speaking on the possibility of such an action, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, "The issue of lowering the level of diplomatic relations is a standard practice for states that face unfriendly or hostile manifestations."
Peskov further elaborated on the reasons behind Russia's deliberation, saying, "Due to the growing involvement of the West in the conflict over Ukraine, the Russian Federation cannot but consider various options for responding to such hostile Western intervention in the Ukrainian crisis."
The Kremlin representative highlighted that while Russia is exploring different ways to respond to the West's actions, no definitive course of action has been determined yet.