Dearlove said there was controversy over Blair's 2000 trip to Moscow to watch War and Peace opera with Putin.
“ [ 177 ] In 2000, Blair went on a trip to Moscow to watch a performance of the War and Peace opera with Vladimir Putin , while he was the acting president of Russia . This meeting was criticised by groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International . [ 179 ] In 2018, Sir Richard Dearlove , former head of MI6, said there was ”
Dearlove alleged a KGB officer approached him in 2000 seeking British help to boost Putin's political profile, which led to Blair's meeting with Putin.
“ over this trip, which helped Putin rise to power. Dearlove also alleged that in 2000, a KGB officer approached him, seeking Britain's help in boosting Putin's political profile, and this was why Blair met Putin in Russia. [ 180 ] Blair also hosted Putin in London in April 2000, despite hesitation towards Putin from other world leaders, and opposition from human rights groups over atrocities committed in Chechnya . Blair told Jim Hoagland of The Washington Post that ”
Dearlove states he has seen no convincing evidence of significant Russian intervention in the Brexit referendum.
“I've not seen anything that convinces me at all that the Russians intervened significantly in the Brexit referendum.”
Dearlove states the EU lacks military capability or power to balance Russia.
“The EU doesn't have the military capability or power to balance Russia. And what's interesting is,”
Dearlove states he has seen no convincing evidence of significant Russian intervention in Brexit referendum.
“I don't think I've not seen anything that convinces me at all that the Russians intervened significantly in the Brexit referendum.”
Dearlove says Russia's GDP roughly equals Italy's, ranking thirteenth or fourteenth globally with weak industrial base.
“Russia, in fact, now has more or less the GDP of Italy, somewhere around thirteenth or fourteenth in the world. And it has an aging population. It has a very weak industrial base.”
Dearlove characterizes Russia as commodity-dependent with weak industry and demographics, calling it unquestionably a declining power.
“It has a very weak industrial base. It's commodity dependent. It's got dreadful demographics, and it's a declining power unquestionably.”
Dearlove says Russia has roughly the GDP of Italy, ranking thirteenth or fourteenth globally.
“But bear in mind, and people are surprised when I say this, that Russia, in fact, now has more or less the GDP of Italy, somewhere around thirteenth or fourteenth in the world.”
Dearlove says Russia has roughly Italy's GDP, ranking thirteenth or fourteenth globally, with an aging population.
“Russia, in fact, now has more or less the GDP of Italy, somewhere around thirteenth or fourteenth in the world. And it has an aging population.”
Dearlove asserts Russia has never experienced a coup, only revolutions throughout its history.
“Historically, there's never been a coup in Russia. There have been revolutions, there haven't been coups.”
Dearlove predicts Russians are currently offering intelligence services to the West over Ukraine disagreements.
“There will be, for sure, Russians who will be offering their services to the Americans or to other Western nations because they so fundamentally disagree with Russian policy.”
Dearlove says Palantir's intellectual property must be massive interest to Russia and China.
“your intellectual property must be a massive interest to the Russians and the Chinese. So you almost need, you know, a sort of protective organization.”
Dearlove states that Palantir's intellectual property must be of massive interest to Russians and Chinese.
“your intellectual property must be of massive interest to the Russians and the Chinese. So you almost need a sort of protective organization.”
Dearlove says Palantir's intellectual property must be of massive interest to Russians and Chinese, requiring protective organization.
“But for example, your intellectual property must be of massive interest to the Russians and the Chinese. So you almost need a sort of protective organization.”
Dearlove states UK is in state of grey warfare with Russia using sub-conflict means against infrastructure.
“You know as far as the Russians are concerned because of Ukraine we're in a state of grey warfare with them and they are using all sorts of means which are beneath the level of open conflict to cause, well, mayhem in aspects of the West's daily critical infrastructure, daily life,”
Dearlove reveals Russians attacked his personal encrypted emails despite him being retired.
“I mean, I have my own personal cipher emails attacked by the Russians. Okay. It happened quite a long time ago.”
Dearlove states the UK is in a state of grey warfare with Russia over Ukraine targeting critical infrastructure.
“You know as far as the Russians are concerned because of Ukraine we're in a state of grey warfare with them and they are using all sorts of means which are beneath the level of open conflict to cause, well, mayhem in aspects of the West's daily critical infrastructure,”
Dearlove says the UK is in a state of grey warfare with Russia over Ukraine.
“I mean if you just take one player, maybe it's a more clear cut example than one we're talking about which is Russia.”
Dearlove argues Trump and Russia both seek to replace Zelenskyy with a controllable Ukrainian leader.
“And what they want well, what the Russians want is a Manchurian candidate who does not appear to be a Manchurian candidate at all, who looks like a loyal Ukrainian,”
Dearlove says Trump and Russia want Zelenskyy removed and replaced with a Manchurian candidate.
“And what they want well, what the Russians want is a Manchurian candidate who does not appear to be a Manchurian candidate at all,”
Dearlove estimates Russian casualties at 1.2 million with over 200,000 fatalities in Ukraine war.
“we reckon the Russian figures now are one point one, 1,200,000. I don't know what the fatalities are within that figure, over two hundred thousand probably, maybe even more than that.”
Dearlove criticizes Trump's security statement for failing to explicitly name Russia as a global threat.
“you can't write a statement about security without including clear reference to Russia as a global threat.”
Dearlove says Russians want a Manchurian candidate in Ukraine who appears loyal but will make concessions.
“what the Russians want is a Manchurian candidate who does not appear to be a Manchurian candidate at all, who looks like a loyal Ukrainian, but after the election, will make the concessions that Zelensky may not have made or probably won't have made already.”
Dearlove estimates Russian casualties at 1.2 million with over 200,000 fatalities in Ukraine war.
“the we reckon the Russian figures now are one point one, 1,200,000. I don't know what the fatalities are within that figure, over two hundred thousand probably, maybe even more than that.”
Dearlove says UK defense spending must rise to 5% immediately, not 3.5% by 2035.
“And but but it's no good saying we should raise defense expenditure 3.5% by 2035. They've got to start now. 3.5% is not enough. It's 5%.”
Dearlove says Ukraine-Russia ceasefire line is nowhere near the DMZ precedent between North and South Korea.
“Look. There are precedents for this, which is the DMZ between North And South Korea, but that's, you know, an internationally evacuated ban between the two countries, and that's not you know, it's been there for years, but we're nowhere near that situation in terms of doing a deal with Russia over Ukraine.”
Dearlove says Putin is losing allies and American deterrence has reasserted itself unexpectedly under Trump.
“He's losing his friends fast. American deterrence, whether we like Trump or not, is suddenly standing up on the world stage in a rather extraordinary way, which probably none of us had imagined would happen.”
Putin requires very high-level security as a high-profile target, making certain protective measures normal for someone in his position.
“ he told The Sun . Advert He explained that s figure such as Putin would require a very high level of security. “It’s almost a normal security measure for somebody like Putin – who is a very high-profile target,”