Boris Johnson is rethinking his plans to visit Russia this autumn because of the crisis in Ukraine.
The Standard can reveal that the Mayor was invited on a short trade and cultural trip in early October by his counterpart in Moscow. However, it is understood that Mr Johnson is uncomfortable about the events in Ukraine and that the visit could be cancelled.
A senior City Hall source said: “Boris is not happy about what is happening in the Ukraine and feels it may not be appropriate to travel to Russia. But we’ll wait and see.”
In his column in the Daily Telegraph today, the Mayor mocked Vladimir Putin in an irreverent sketch in which the spirit of Joseph Stalin tears apart the president’s record.
The planned visit, which would last several days, would build on trade and cultural links during the UK/Russia Year of Culture in 2014.
The Mayor’s official spokesman said: “A final decision will be made in the near future.”
Scottish MPs invited to act as monitors in the Crimea referendum over leaving Ukraine have been warned by Downing Street that the vote is “unconstitutional and illegitimate”.
