Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed his refusal to stand within 70ft of Britain’s new ambassador to Moscow at a diplomatic ceremony on ‘sanitary reasons’.
Putin appeared to hold out an olive branch to Britain yesterday as he called for ‘change for the better’ in relations between Moscow and London at a ceremony in the gilded Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.
The event saw Putin accept the diplomatic credentials of several new ambassadors to Russia, including Britain’s new man in Moscow Nigel Casey.
But his words were contradicted by his actions as the Russian President stood at an awkward distance from the new 21 envoys in front of an enormous golden door with flags at either side of him, refusing to speak with them or stand in close proximity to the group.
The envoys could be seen listening at the other side of the room looking displeased in a ceremony that resembled a pandemic event.
Putin could be seen speaking confidently while standing at an…