Plans to invite a Russian delegation to next year’s G20 summit in Manchester have triggered a political backlash, with critics warning that the move could help Vladimir Putin’s regime portray relations with Britain as returning to normal.
Government sources confirmed that Russia will be invited to send representatives despite the continuing war in Ukraine. The decision has also caused unease within Whitehall, where one insider described it as “deeply regrettable”.
Ministers are understood to believe that Mr Putin is unlikely to attend personally because an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Ukraine could be upheld by British courts.
The Russian president has also been accused of ordering the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, which killed mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson said it would be “unthinkable” for Mr Putin or figures such as Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to be allowed to enter the UK.
“We cannot send a signal that we are returning to business as usual with Putin because that is exactly what he wants,” Mr Johnson said.
“If we must invite a Russian delegation because the G20 is too spineless to kick them out then we should make it clear that war criminals, including Putin, will be arrested if they come here.”
Tory national security spokesman Alicia Kearns said allowing Russian war criminals into Britain for the summit would be “an insult to all those who have fought and died in Ukraine”.
“Moscow is not welcome until they end their barbaric and illegal invasion,” she said.
One Whitehall source said the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence were opposed to the invitation, which was said to have been pushed through by Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, responsible for preparing the G20.
A security source warned that Russia would use the presence of its delegation as a propaganda opportunity.
“Russia is an enemy not just of the UK, but of the West as a whole. They are engaged in hostile activity against us every single day,” the source said.
“Whatever the diplomatic niceties around this, they will treat their presence at a G20 summit in the UK as a propaganda coup, which they will use at home to gain unwarranted legitimacy.”
The Government said Russian participation was regrettable but argued that the G20 operates on the basis of consensus, with all countries invited and member states deciding who represents them at summits.
Downing Street insisted that Andy Burnham remained “steadfast” in his support for Ukraine.
