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Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Paranoid Putin sends Salisbury poisonings suspect to peace talks in his place
GRU chief Igor Olegovich Kostyukov has gone to Istanbul while Vladimir Putin stays home - Kostyukov was sanctioned by the UK following the deadly Salisbury poisonings A Russian spook accused of the 'reckless use of a chemical weapon' in the 2018 Salisbury poisonings has travelled for ceasefire talks with Ukraine this week, according to reports. Igor Olegovich Kostyukov has gone to the talks in Istanbul, while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains at home, following speculation the Kremlin leader fears an assassination attempt. Kostyukov, 64, is the chief of the Russian military intelligence service the GRU. Two members of the GRU, Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin, are suspects in the 2018 nerve agent poisonings of Sergei Skripal and his daughter. The Kremlin has always denied their involvement in the poisonings. The attack also killed 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess, who came into contact with the deadly Novichok substance. In sanctioning Kostyukov in January 2019, then-Tory foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the GRU 'put innocent British citizens in serious danger in Salisbury'. Now, reports say Kostyukov is among the Russian contingent that travelled in a special Kremlin aircraft to Turkey for the peace talks that have been shunned by Putin, despite an invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet face-to-face. Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, the former commander of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, told the Mirror there are 'analysts' who believe Putin is a 'dead man walking' because of his war in Ukraine. 'I don't think there is a chance in hell that he would or will turn up to Istanbul to face Zelensky as he would believe he could be in danger or face arrest for war crimes,' he said. 'Things are looking very bad in Russia as even the US now seems to be looking at conciliation with Ukraine as Trump is realising he has been played by Putin. 'Putin cannot keep playing for time and his bluff has been called brilliantly by Zelensky's challenge to meet him face-to-face in Turkey.' Col de Bretton-Gordon said Putin is 'incredibly paranoid' and has increased his security as Russia faces considerable troop losses in its war, as well as a continued slump in oil prices. Its revenues from exported oil has fallen to the lowest in nearly two years, according to the International Energy Agency. US President Donald Trump, who will not attend the talks, downplayed Putin's decision to skip the Istanbul meetings. 'I didn't think it was possible for Putin to go if I'm not there,' he said after previously floating the possibility he may attend earlier. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also plans to be in Istanbul on Friday for the anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks after a push for direct talks between Zelensky and Putin came amid a flurry of negotiations aimed at producing a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelensky, who is in Turkey, will only meet directly with Putin. Among the Russian negotiators is Vladimir Medinsky, a vocal critic of the West and someone who has made statements calling Ukraine's existence a 'historical phantom'. He will lead the Russian delegation. Colonel General Alexander Fomin Russia's deputy defence minister, is also in attendance with deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzhin. The UK, meanwhile, has accused Putin of sending a 'low-level' delegation to peace talks on Ukraine rather than agreeing to a face-to-face meeting with Zelensky. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Nato counterparts including the US's top diplomat Marco Rubio are taking part in a separate meeting in Turkey. Mr Lammy said: 'We come with one single message to stand by Ukraine and to ensure that we get a just and lasting, enduring peace. And the readiness for that peace is demonstrated by President Zelensky being here in Turkey as well. And of course, we watched closely as we head to these talks, noting the Russian low-level individuals who are coming to represent the Russian side.' Overnight, Ukraine's air force downed 62 of the 100 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones fired by Russia. Local authorities in Sumy said a missile strike on an industrial site killed three people and injured six others, while two others were killed in attacks on Kupiansk and Torske respectively.
International Business Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- International Business Times
Putin's Name Not on List of Officials Attending High-Stakes Peace Talks in Turkey to End Ukraine War, Raising Concerns About His Health
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the high-stakes meeting scheduled to be in Turkey this week that will focus on resolving the ongoing three-year war in Ukraine. This came as several British military experts claimed that Putin is a "dead man walking" who is severely ill and rarely steps out of the Kremlin these days. Putin had suggested holding direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul, his name does not feature in the list of Russian delegates attending the negotiations, which was released by the Kremlin on Wednesday, according to the BBC. Kremlin did not give any reason for the Russian President not attending the meeting. Putin's Absence Raises Eyebrows Zelensky, who hasn't had a meeting with Putin in person since 2019, is scheduled to be in Istanbul for Thursday's negotiations. He will be accompanied by a senior U.S. delegation headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. President Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to the Middle East, is also not likely to take part in the high-stakes meeting, despite having suggested earlier this week that he might attend. The Russia's delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a senior advisor to President Putin, Kremlin announced on Wednesday. On Sunday, Putin—who launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—proposed that Russia and Ukraine hold direct talks "without pre-conditions" in Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city. Shortly after the suggestion was made public, Trump urged Zelensky to accept Putin's offer. "Ukraine should agree to this, IMMEDIATELY," Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday. "At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible, and if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly!" "HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!." the president added. That same day, Zelensky announced that he would "be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday. Personally." Hopes of Peace Amid Growing Concerns over Putin's Health Trump, who promised during his 2024 campaign to quickly bring an end to the deadliest war in Europe since World War II, remains hopeful about the upcoming talks. "I think we're having some pretty good news coming out of there today and maybe tomorrow and maybe Friday, frankly," he said in Qatar on Wednesday. "But we'll see about that." However, amid all the hopes concerns about Putin's health have grown. Concerns about the declining health of Putin, 72, have circulated for years as he grows older, and now experts claim that the brutal war in Ukraine has drained much of his remaining strength. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former head of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, shared with the Mirror, "There are analysts, people who know better than I, who believe Putin is now a dead man walking, a spent force whose war in Ukraine will cause his end." Bruce Jones, one of the UK's leading analysts of Russia, said: "Things never end democratically in Russia and the situation is bad for Putin. He has had people killed for years and some in his military have already been dealt with in such a way - he knows the way this goes for a leader in Moscow who is not making good decisions. So he is probably right to be paranoid." Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that he would try to urge Putin to take part in the discussions. Lula has maintained strong ties with Putin even after Russia's invasion of Ukraine—a stance that has strained ties with Kyiv and drawn concern from Western nations.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin could be a ‘dead man walking' and face assassination over 'disaster' war
The Russian despot has tightened his security and rarely leaves his Kremlin security bubble out of fear of a Ukrainian kill squad, anti-Kremlin plotters or killers from within his inner-circle Russian leader Vladimir Putin could be a 'dead man walking' and face assassination because of his disastrous war on Ukraine, experts believe. The 72 year-old despot has tightened his security and rarely leaves his Kremlin security bubble out of fear of a Ukrainian kill squad, anti-Kremlin plotters or killers from within his inner-circle. It comes as Russian society is learning they have suffered close to a million casualties, troops either killed, missing in action or wounded by fighting in Ukraine, Experts say the terrified ex-KGB man's reticence over facing Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Turkey this week has hugely exposed his weakness. Western intelligence analysts now believe Putin not only fears being assassinated but that it could actually happen because of his 'meat grinder' conflict. Former commander of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Regiment, Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, told the Mirror: 'There are analysts, people who know better than I, who believe Putin is now a dead man walking, a spent force whose war in Ukraine will cause his end. 'I don't think there is a chance in hell that he would or will turn up to Istanbul to face Zelensky as he would believe he could be in danger or face arrest for war crimes. Things are looking very bad in Russia as even the US now seems to be looking at conciliation with Ukraine as Trump is realising he has been played by Putin. 'Putin cannot keep playing for time and his bluff has been called brilliantly by Zelensky's challenge to meet him face-to-face in Turkey. Russia in the coming months will lose a third of its income through decreased oil prices and it has lost probably a million troops to the conflict. 'He is incredibly paranoid, as we see with his increased security and I am very reliably informed by people who would know that he has at least two dopplegangers or lookalikes. He has been acting like a worried Czar and the Bolsheviks are gathering at the gates because internally things are looking really terrible. Russians cannot even buy a loaf of bread.' Bruce Jones, one of the UK's leading analysts in Russian intelligence and the military said: 'Things never end democratically in Russia and the situation is bad for Putin. He has had people killed for years and some in his military have already been dealt with in such a way - he knows the way this goes for a leader in Moscow who is not making good decisions. So he is probably right to be paranoid.' Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK forces in Afghanistan, added: 'There are plenty of people who would want to have Putin bumped off. But his security is so tight that there is a real question over whether that is at all achievable and I believe that for the moment it is unlikely to happen.' Zelensky challenged Putin to showdown talks this week that could bring an end to the grinding war that has decimated both countries. The Ukraine leader travels to Turkey on Thursday hoping to negotiate the first steps to "true and lasting peace" in Eastern Europe, his chief of staff has announced. Putin had suggested a meeting between officials from Kyiv and Moscow to be held in Istanbul, but it is highly unlikely he would attend. The Ukrainian president said that should Putin refuse to go it would show the Kremlin chief does not want peace. A former British intelligence officer told the Mirror: 'Putin is a very diminished person. But there are questions over whether him being killed would serve any purpose.' US President Donald Trump has offered to attend the talks, although Washington is not clear whether any Kremlin officials would show up. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously said it would make an announcement about whether anyone would attend "as soon as the president sees fit." Kyiv has been willing to show Washington it is prepared to end the conflict, having signed a minerals deal with the US and regularly stating it wants to bring the war to an end. Russian mercenary organisation, the Wagner Group staged an armed revolt against the country over concerns about how the war was being conducted. Its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin led a mutiny against Russia, steering his forces from Ukraine toward Moscow Putin branded it "treason" but agreed with Prigozhin to let him live should he bring the mutiny to an end. Prigozhin died in a plane crash two months later in August 2023. Putin is so desperate for troops North Korea is estimated to have sent about 12,000 including members of its special forces. It is possible thousands of North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict. And last week it emerged that North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-Un has agreed to send a further 15,000 workers to help Putin bolster his dwindling industrial employee base and help in Far East Russian factories.
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Threat of India and Pakistan nuclear war is real - but there's a silver lining
The threat of atomic war between bitter enemies Pakistan and India is real - but that alarm will likely prevent a major conflict breaking out between the two, declares a top UK military nuke expert One of the UK's leading military experts in atomic warfare has declared India and Pakistan's nuclear weapons will likely 'prevent a major war.' But more terror attacks or unconventional warfare backed or planned by Pakistan would herald an increase in conventional strikes by militarily superior India, he warned. Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon was talking as the world awaits Islamabad's threatened revenge move following India's strikes on Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir and the mainland. India has claimed it was striking Pakistan-backed terror camps in retaliation for an April 22 terror attack that killed 26 tourists, mostly Indians, in its part of Kashmir. And Pakistan claimed it has killed 'dozens' of Indian soldiers and that overnight it shot down 12 Indian drones. Delhi's military claimed in reply that it thwarted missile and drone attacks by Pakistan on Wednesday through to Thursday morning on 15 sites across the north and west. And Col De Bretton-Gordon added that although neither India or Pakistan owns so-called traditional chemical weapons made by countries such as Russia and in the past Syria, there is always that danger. The former Commanding Officer of the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological and Nuclear Regiment told the Mirror: 'In an odd way this means a future escalation is less likely. "The thing that both countries having nuclear weapons does is it creates balance, equilibrium and parity. Look at what's happening in Ukraine where there is no nuclear parity and Putin is able to make threats about nuclear weapons and gets away with it. 'When you have nuclear parity this almost cancels the two sides out and avoids a conventional escalation.' One problem may lie in Pakistan's complex relationships with terror groups, he added, saying: 'But at the same time it is true to say that Pakistan has had major problems with al-Qaeda, Islamic State and the Taliban. Pakistan must have some responsibility towards this. "Pakistan will retaliate in some way to India's recent strikes but unlikely with a full scale invasion as there is no conventional parity. India is a much more powerful military entity and Pakistan knows that. 'That said the links between the Pakistan Inter Service Intelligence agency, the ISI and these organisations in the past is pretty unpleasant and that has to be watched. This has been a complex relationship. "We could see more terror attacks and that could be met with a much more conventional response from India.' Both India and Pakistan are said not to own chemical and biological weapons - but de Bretton-Gordon warns that chemical weapons can easily be used by both. He said: 'Russia is daily using these kinds of weapons and they are very easily made, even though the thing being used might not be what people think of as chemical weapons. 'Putin's troops are using riot control agents, which technically are chemical weapons, on an industrial scale and they are very effective. I was with the Kurdish Peshmerga in Syria when ISIS were firing mortars full of Chlorine and you then see a brave fighter used to running into a hail of bullets looking terrified. "This is a very scary weapon and it can easily kill you. This stuff is called Chloropicrin and it can be deadly. Whilst India and Pakistan may not have what we usually think of as chemical weapons I am quite sure both do have these riot control agents. 'To summarise, if the situation worsens we may see an escalation of some kind , even perhaps more terror attacks - but this would not be in Pakistan's interest. Ultimately India is in a position of conventional military overmatch with Pakistan and a war could lead to the devastation of Pakistan.'
