It wasn't aimed at you specifically, but people here generally. They like to ignore the blatantly obvious reality that Jolla / Sailfish is not the first port of call or even a remotely likely one for most OEMs or phone designers, even niche or 'indie' ones. That Jolla have been forced to Intel's begging bowl is testament to it .. if 'their' reference platform for phones is indeed just the upcoming Rockchip designed Intel one (like the Rockchip designed platform Nokia & Jolla tablets use already), they can kiss China goodbye and indeed any hope of large sales volume. Hopefully they're just making an effort to make Sailfish compatible with said platform from day one (as per likely contractual agreements with Intel), and that if they are pursuing a reference platform it's ARM ... otherwise they'll find themselves further pigeon-holed into an almost microscopic niche.

You greatly exaggerate the level of acerbity in business dealings / corporate matters between the UK and Russia. The two are inextricably linked, particularly when it comes to the vital (to Russia's solvency) oil and gas industry, and to the vast wealth sequestered in the UK by the many Oligarchs (who the Kremlin cannot possibly afford to alienate many more of). Both countries know where their interests lie here. Relations are much less strained than those between Finland and Russia, on a political level. Certainly, Finnish governmental agencies would be observing a deal or promotion for Jolla/Sailfish much more closely than UK agencies would UP being promoted there. If there truly is to be a concerted (and official) push away from Android / iOS (and what little market BB has) in Russia, their advisors will immediately tell them that Canonical's software is open-source (no nasty surprises) and they actively avoid involvement with Five Eyes. Besides, from an official / governmental perspective, their desktop convergence would have to be hugely attractive.