LONDON, Nov 14 (Agencies): Theresa May has launched her strongest attack on Russia yet, accusing Moscow of meddling in elections and carrying out cyber espionage.
Addressing leading business figures at a banquet in London, the prime minister said Vladimir Putin's government was trying to "undermine free societies".
Mrs May said it was "planting fake stories" to "sow discord in the West".
But, she added, whilst the UK did not want "perpetual confrontation" with Russia, it would protect its interests.
Her comments are in stark contrast to those of US President Donald Trump, who last week said he believed President Putin's denial of intervening in the 2016 presidential election.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is due to visit Russia next month.
In a major foreign policy speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at London's Guildhall, which Mrs May described as a "very simple message" for President Putin, she said he must choose a very "different path" from the one that in recent years had seen Moscow annex Crimea, foment conflict in Ukraine and launch cyber attacks on governments and Parliaments across Europe.
Russia could be a valuable partner of the West but only if it "plays by the rules", she argued.
Meanwhile, the Spanish government said it has intelligence suggesting Russian-based groups used social media to spread "misinformation" related to Catalonia's independence referendum.
"Propaganda campaigns" intended to destabilize Spain came from Russian territory and Venezuela, two ministers said Monday in Brussels, where the European Union's Foreign Affairs Council is taking place.
"Yes, we have confirmed it," Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfonso Dastis said when asked if the Spanish government had confirmed interference in the regional referendum originated in Russia.
However, the Spanish government could not "say with certainty" if the Russian government was behind it, Defense Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal added.
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