Putin blames ‘sanitary reasons’ as he refuses to stand within 70ft of Britain’s new ambassador to Moscow at diplomatic ceremony

• Putin spoke at Kremlin ceremony accepting credentials of new ambassadors

Putin blamed ‘sanitary reasons’ as he refused to stand within 70ft of Britain’s new ambassador to Moscow at a diplomatic ceremony.

Putin appeared to hold out an olive branch to Britain, as he called for ‘change for the better’ in relations between Moscow and London in the gilded Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

But this was 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 as he refused to talk to them. 

They could be seen listening at the other side of the room looking displeased in a ceremony that resembled a pandemic event.

He spoke at a Kremlin ceremony accepting the diplomatic credentials of new ambassadors, including Britain’s new man in Moscow Nigel Casey. 

Putin could be seen speaking confidently while standing at an awkward distance from the ambassadors in front of an enormous golden door with flags at either side of him

The ambassadors were standing at the other side of the room looking displeased

Putin spoke confidently in his lavish surroundings. He told the envoys – including the new ambassadors of Germany and Australia: ‘Unfortunately, for sanitary reasons, we cannot talk more, socialise’ 

Putin has been frequently seen close to multiple people in recent days and weeks and the confident delivery of his speech seemed at odds with his behaviour.

Putin alluded to the recent 80th anniversary of the Tehran Conference of the heads of the three allied states: the Soviet Union, the US and Britain – Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, ‘which laid the foundations of the modern system of international relations’.

Putin said: ‘In the post-war period and until recently, our countries managed to build interaction based on the understanding of their special responsibility for maintaining global peace, stability and security as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

‘But the current state of affairs in the dialogue with London is common knowledge, and let us hope that the situation will change for the better in the interests of our two countries and peoples.’

Putin has been frequently seen close to multiple people in recent days and weeks and the confident delivery of his speech seemed at odds with his behaviour

Nigel Casey, British Ambassador to the Russian Federation, looking solemn during the speech

Putin delivering the speech in the gilded Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace

Putin told the envoys – including the new ambassadors of Germany and Australia: ‘Unfortunately, for sanitary reasons, we cannot talk more, socialise.

‘I hope that better times will come, not only in politics but also in health care, and we will be able to do so.

‘In any case, as a matter of routine, both myself, the Foreign Minister [Sergey Lavrov], and my assistant for international affairs [Yuri Ushakov] are always at your disposal.’

Recent pictures show Putin standing close to people with no discernable sanitary issues at play.

The chill in relations between Britain and Russia has been worsened by Putin’s decision to illegally invade sovereign state Ukraine.

On arrival in Moscow, Casey bluntly told the Kremlin that ‘ending the human suffering’ caused by Putin in Ukraine was Britain’s priority.

Putin seen in front of a crowd in a recent photograph. Putin told the envoys: ‘I hope that better times will come, not only in politics but also in health care, and we will be able to do so’ 

Putin seen greeting children in a recent photograph with no discernable sanitary issues at play

Putin at the event as two guards open the huge golden doors ahead of the Russian President’s speech

Nigel Casey, British Ambassador to the Russian Federation. The chill in relations between Britain and Russia has been worsened by Putin’s decision to illegally invade sovereign state Ukraine

Standing at his official residence with his back to the Kremlin, and speaking in Russian, he said: ‘Maintaining relations with the Russian government and the Russian people remains important to the UK, perhaps today more important than ever.

‘Decisions taken by Russia matter not only for the UK, but the whole world.

‘Few of the issues, currently facing us, are more important than ending the human suffering caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.’

Telegram channel General SVR claimed today that it was a Putin doppelgänger who greeted the ambassadors on arrival in Moscow.

‘The backup accepted credentials from the newly arrived ambassadors of foreign states,’ it stated.

‘The main reason for the double’s 20 metre distance from the ambassadors is the deplorable state of the [body double’s] face.

‘Several small lumps have appeared on “Putin’s” cheekbones, which is why his face has acquired a lumpy appearance, and this problem can hardly be hidden with makeup.

‘As of yesterday, the double was more different than ever from the real Putin.’

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