the previous top minister defined him as a ‘Russian patriot’ (Picture: AFP/Getty Photographs)

Tony Blair once argued that Vladimir Putin should be given a seat at the global ‘top table’, in keeping with newly launched official information.

His call got here regardless of deep misgivings amongst officers in regards to the new Russian president.

Papers launched to the Nationwide Records in Kew, west London, reveal that Mr Blair, as top minister, believed Putin was a ‘Russian patriot’ and that it was once vital to encourage him to adopt western values.

But behind the scenes officials feared the Kremlin chief represented a go back to vintage Chilly Struggle attitudes – and puzzled whether or not he could be depended on.

An inside No 10 briefing be aware from January 2001 – nearly a yr after Putin assumed power – entitled ‘Putin’s progress’ highlighted the concerns, including a resurgence in Russian espionage actions.

‘In Spite Of the heat of Putin’s rhetoric in regards to the close links between Russia and the united kingdom, the Russian intelligence attempt towards British goals remains at a high level,’ it said.

‘The Russian intelligence presence in the uk is at Cold Warfare ranges, and they continue to try to submit lively and antagonistic officers to paintings towards British interests worldwide.’

PA Picture. See PA tale RECORDS Putin. Photo credit should read: Peter Jordan/PA Cord”/>Blair argued that Vladimir Putin should be given a seat on the world ‘top desk’ (Image: PA)

The record lists a series of assurances given by way of Putin to Mr Blair all through their conferences at quite a lot of world summits, which turned out to be fake.

They included backing for the West’s difficult line on dealing with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and undertakings that Moscow could forestall providing Iran’s nuclear programme.

on the sinking of the Russian submarine Kursk with the loss of all 118 crew, the paper said that while Putin had thanked Mr Blair for his offer of help, Russian officers had obstructed its supply whilst spreading fake rumours that it used to be the result of a collision with a British sub.

Putin additionally instructed the top minister he didn’t wish to be regarded as to be ‘anti-Nato’.