Tony Blair wanted Vladimir Putin to be at international ‘top table’

Former prime minister believed Russian president was ‘patriot’ at heart

Tony Blair argued that Vladimir Putin should be given a seat at the international “top table” in the early 2000s despite concerns from officials, according to newly released official files.

Papers released to the National Archives in Kew, west London, show the former prime minister believed the former KGB man was a “Russian patriot” at heart and it was important to encourage him to adopt western values.

However, officials feared he represented a return to old Cold War attitudes and had misgivings about whether he could be trusted.