Putin stands 70ft away from British ambassador for ‘sanitary reasons’

Putin stood away from the ambassadors off in the distance in front of a massive golden door (Picture: Reuters)

Vladimir Putin said ‘sanitary reasons’ are why he stood 70ft away from Britain’s new ambassador to Moscow.

The new ambassador Nigel Casey accepted his new credentials at a ceremony in the Kremlin.

Putin also took the opportunity to offer an olive branch to Britain and called for ‘change for the better’.

The Russian dictator’s unusual comments come despite being seen close to other people over the last few weeks and days.

Putin told envoys which also included ambassadors to Australia and Germany: ‘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.’

It was reported by Telegram channel General SVR it was one of Putin’s doppelgangers that greeted the ambassadors.

Putin told the ambassadors that he couldn’t stand near them due to ‘sanitary reasons’ (Picture: Reuters)

Telegram reported the Putin could be a doppelganger (Picture: Kremlin.ru/e2w)

It stated: ‘The backup accepted credentials from the newly arrived ambassadors of foreign states.

‘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.’

Putin spoke about the 80th anniversary of the Tehran Conference which was held between Britain, the US and the Soviet Union.

Putin said this ‘laid the foundations of the modern system of international relations’.

The ambassadors including Casey in the centre were forced to stand on the other side of the room (Picture: Kremlin.ru/e2w)

He added: ‘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.’

At the ceremony Casey said ‘ending the human suffering’ from the war in Ukraine is Britain’s goal.

He addressed the Kremlin and 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.’

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