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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Vladimir Putin condemns Prince Charles's 'Nazi' remarks | Vladimir Putin condemns Prince Charles's 'Nazi' remarks |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Vladimir Putin has described Prince Charles's reported comparison of him with Adolf Hitler as "unacceptable". | Vladimir Putin has described Prince Charles's reported comparison of him with Adolf Hitler as "unacceptable". |
| A former Polish war refugee who met the Prince of Wales during a royal tour to Canada said he had likened some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Mr Putin. | A former Polish war refugee who met the Prince of Wales during a royal tour to Canada said he had likened some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Mr Putin. |
| The Russian president, who has faced criticism in the West over Russia's actions in Ukraine, said if the prince had made such comments they were "wrong" and "not royal behaviour". | The Russian president, who has faced criticism in the West over Russia's actions in Ukraine, said if the prince had made such comments they were "wrong" and "not royal behaviour". |
| Clarence House declined to comment. | Clarence House declined to comment. |
| Analysis | |
| By Bridget Kendall, BBC diplomatic correspondent | |
| There are several reasons for President Putin to downplay this incident. | |
| For a start he cannot get too indignant when he is not entirely sure what Prince Charles actually said. | |
| Secondly, this is not what Mr Putin wants Russians to be talking about. | |
| He may think it is okay for his officials to accuse the government in Kiev of being linked to 'neo Nazis' or 'fascist extremists'. | |
| But he won't want Russians thinking about him and Hitler in the same breath, even if it is only to say in what bad taste such a comparison is. | |
| Thirdly Mr Putin, apparently, has no interest in escalating tensions with either Britain or the rest of Europe any further. | |
| Quite the opposite. After more than two months of deepening antagonism over Ukraine, he now appears to think it is time for a truce, and - if possible - a return to business as usual. | |
| To that extent, the spat over Prince Charles's alleged remarks may even be quite useful - to reinforce the message that his aim now is not to look for insults but to rebuild bridges. | |
| 'Well brought-up' | 'Well brought-up' |
| Asked about the prince's reported comments during an interview with international news agencies, the Russian president said: "In such cases, I am reminded of a good expression: If you're angry, you're wrong. | Asked about the prince's reported comments during an interview with international news agencies, the Russian president said: "In such cases, I am reminded of a good expression: If you're angry, you're wrong. |
| "Pass this on both to the prime minister and Prince Charles. He has visited our country many times. I did not hear him say that. | "Pass this on both to the prime minister and Prince Charles. He has visited our country many times. I did not hear him say that. |
| "If that is so, then of course it is unacceptable. I think that he himself understands this. He is a well-brought-up man. I am acquainted both with him and members of the royal family. | "If that is so, then of course it is unacceptable. I think that he himself understands this. He is a well-brought-up man. I am acquainted both with him and members of the royal family. |
| "This is not royal behaviour." | "This is not royal behaviour." |
| Despite criticism from the UK of Russia's recent actions, Mr Putin played down a worsening of relations between the countries. | Despite criticism from the UK of Russia's recent actions, Mr Putin played down a worsening of relations between the countries. |
| He added: "I think that if our partners in Great Britain, just as I am, are guided by national interests rather than some other considerations, then all this will pass quite quickly and we'll continue to co-operate as we have done before". | He added: "I think that if our partners in Great Britain, just as I am, are guided by national interests rather than some other considerations, then all this will pass quite quickly and we'll continue to co-operate as we have done before". |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall described Mr Putin's comments as a "qualified rebuke" but said the episode had generated quite a restrained response from the Kremlin and in the Russian press. | BBC diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall described Mr Putin's comments as a "qualified rebuke" but said the episode had generated quite a restrained response from the Kremlin and in the Russian press. |
| The Russian president made clear this would not "go on to become a real diplomatic problem" between the Britain and Russia, she said. | The Russian president made clear this would not "go on to become a real diplomatic problem" between the Britain and Russia, she said. |
| D-Day anniversary | D-Day anniversary |
| The prince's alleged comments were made during a conversation with a former Polish war refugee during a royal tour to Canada. | The prince's alleged comments were made during a conversation with a former Polish war refugee during a royal tour to Canada. |
| He was speaking to 78-year-old Marienne Ferguson, who left Poland for Canada shortly before the Nazi occupation, at an immigration museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. | He was speaking to 78-year-old Marienne Ferguson, who left Poland for Canada shortly before the Nazi occupation, at an immigration museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| They had been discussing Hitler's takeover of countries. Ms Ferguson said the prince said "something to the effect of 'it's not unlike... what Putin is doing'". | They had been discussing Hitler's takeover of countries. Ms Ferguson said the prince said "something to the effect of 'it's not unlike... what Putin is doing'". |
| The prince and the Russian president are both due to attend a D-Day anniversary event in France next month. | The prince and the Russian president are both due to attend a D-Day anniversary event in France next month. |
| The Russian embassy said the reported remarks were "outrageous", but reaction in the UK was more supportive of the prince. | The Russian embassy said the reported remarks were "outrageous", but reaction in the UK was more supportive of the prince. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron said he would not comment on a private conversation but added that "everyone is entitled to their private opinions". | Prime Minister David Cameron said he would not comment on a private conversation but added that "everyone is entitled to their private opinions". |
| And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Prince Charles was "free to express himself", while Labour leader Ed Miliband said the prince "has got a point". | And Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Prince Charles was "free to express himself", while Labour leader Ed Miliband said the prince "has got a point". |
| The UK has said Russia faces "growing political isolation" over its actions in Ukraine, including the annexation of a chunk of Ukraine's territory, the Crimean peninsula. | The UK has said Russia faces "growing political isolation" over its actions in Ukraine, including the annexation of a chunk of Ukraine's territory, the Crimean peninsula. |