Continued relations with Russia. BT has been forced to continue its relationship with Russia's state-backed telecoms operator despite attempts to join a corporate boycott over the war in Ukraine. The British telecoms giant is understood to have explored whether it could sever ties with Rostelecom as part of backlash over Vladimir Putin's invasion. However, BT has pulled back from taking such action because it would mean people in the UK would no longer be able to make calls to Russia.