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

Putin blamed “hygienic reasons” for refusing to stand within 75 feet of the new British ambassador in Moscow during a diplomatic ceremony.

Putin appeared to offer Britain an olive branch 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 an uncomfortable distance from the new 21 envoys in front of a huge golden door with flags on either side of him, refusing to speak to them.

They could be seen listening from across the room, looking disgruntled, during a ceremony that resembled a pandemic event.

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

Putin could be seen speaking confidently as he stood an uncomfortable distance from the ambassadors in front of a huge golden door with flags on either side of him

The ambassadors stood on the other side of the room and looked dissatisfied

Putin spoke confidently in his opulent surroundings. He told the envoys – including the new ambassadors of Germany and Australia: 'Unfortunately, for sanitary reasons we can no longer talk, socialize'

Putin has often been seen around several people in recent days and weeks and the confident speech he gave seemed at odds with his behavior.

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 foundation for the modern system of international relations. '.

Putin said: “In the post-war period and until recently, our countries have 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 well known, and let us hope that the situation will change for the better in the interests of our two countries and peoples.”

Nigel Casey, the British ambassador to the Russian Federation, looked solemn during the speech

Putin will deliver 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 can no longer talk, socialize.

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

“At least, routinely, both myself and the Secretary of State [Sergey Lavrov]and my assistant for international affairs [Yuri Ushakov] are always at your disposal.'

Recent photos show Putin standing close to people with no discernible sanitary problems.

The chill in relations between Britain and Russia has been exacerbated by Putin's decision to illegally invade the sovereign state of Ukraine.

Upon arriving in Moscow, Casey bluntly told the Kremlin that Britain's priority was to “end human suffering” caused by Putin in Ukraine.

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

Putin was seen in a recent photo greeting children with no apparent sanitary problems

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 exacerbated by Putin's decision to illegally invade the sovereign state of Ukraine

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

'Decisions made by Russia matter not just for Britain, but for the whole world.

“Few of the issues we currently face 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 doppelgänger of Putin who greeted the ambassadors upon their arrival in Moscow.

“The backup accepted the credentials of the newly arrived ambassadors of foreign states,” the report said.

'The main reason for the twenty meters distance from the double to the ambassadors is the deplorable condition of the [body double’s] sight.

'Several small bumps have appeared on “Putin's” cheekbones, giving his face a lumpy appearance, and this problem can hardly be hidden with makeup.

“As of yesterday, the doppelgänger was more different than ever from the real Putin.”