Vladimir Putin warned “western elites” against trying to damage the new bond between the US and Russia on Thursday. Speaking to his Federal Security Service (FSB) chiefs on Thursday – the day of Keir Starmer’s press conference with Donald Trump – the Russian president called for his agents to “disrupt” any attempts to break up the rapprochement.

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned "Western elites" against trying to sabotage a potential rapprochement between Russia and the United States, saying Moscow would use its diplomats and intelligence services to thwart such efforts.