Elite Russian officers want to POISON Putin and replace him, Ukrainian intelligence officials say

A plot to ‘poison’ Vladimir Putin and frame it as an accident has been hatched by Moscow’s elite, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

A group of ‘influential’ individuals in Russia have allegedly started planning to remove the president from office – and even lined up a successor.

The effect of Western sanctions on the Russian economy is the main factor behind the scheme with Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), said to be the favoured replacement.

The Chief Directorate of Intelligence in Ukraine said: ‘It is known that Bortnikov and some other influential representatives of the Russian elite are considering various options to remove Putin from power.

The Ukrainian intelligence service says that FSB director Oleksandr Bortnikov is the chosen man to replace Putin

The Ukrainian intelligence service says that FSB director Oleksandr Bortnikov is the chosen man to replace Putin

‘In particular, poisoning, sudden disease, or any other “coincidence” is not excluded.’

Bortnikov previously served alongside Putin in the KGB but has recently fallen out of favour with the Kremlin following Russia’s military losses in Ukraine.

The former intelligence agent is thought to still have a large influence over insiders in the war-torn country where he ran a number of agents.

A Western source told the Daily Mirror: ‘These rumours and suspicions within the Moscow inner-circle will sow the seeds of paranoia and doubt in the leadership.

‘There is a significant suspicion that a small number of people might actually now try to get rid of the Russian president but whether they will succeed remains to be seen.’

It came amid claims that Putin has agreed to meet Volodymyr Zelensky for talks which could end the war in Ukraine.

The Russian president, who has seen his ‘special military operation’ grind to a halt in recent days, was said to have committed to a summit – which could be announced this week. 

Russia has also dropped its demand for the Ukrainian president to be removed from office and replaced by a pro-Moscow puppet leader – a concession forced on the Kremlin by its failures on the battlefield.

Yesterday President Zelensky also said he wants to talk to Putin face to face – but issued a chilling warning that if talks failed it ‘could mean World War Three’.

Speaking on US television channel CNN, he said: ‘Talks are worth pursuing even if they have a one per cent chance of success…

‘We have demonstrated the dignity of our people and our army. But unfortunately our dignity is not going to preserve lives. 

Bortnikov has fallen out of favour with Putin after military losses in the first three weeks of the Ukraine war - in which time he has also sacked eight generals

Bortnikov has fallen out of favour with Putin after military losses in the first three weeks of the Ukraine war – in which time he has also sacked eight generals

‘So I think that we have to use any format, any chance, in order to have the possibility of negotiating.’

The possible peace talks come days after Putin held an extraordinary pro-war rally in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

Officials acting as mediators between Russia and Ukraine said there had been a ‘convergence’ on key issues. 

These include Ukraine abandoning its bid to join Nato, ‘demilitarising’ in exchange for security guarantees and lifting restrictions on using the Russian language. 

For its part, Russia would be required to announce a ceasefire and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory.

Moscow also wants Kyiv to recognise its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the independence of two Russia-backed separatist territories in the eastern Donbas region. 

However, Ukraine has ruled out making territorial concessions as part of the current negotiations.

Once both sides have finalised these agreements Putin will publicly agree to meet Mr Zelensky, it was understood last night.

But fears were raised over Russia’s motives for engaging in dialogue last night. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, described the talks as ‘one-sided’. 

Other observers suggested Russia may be playing for time before kick-starting its faltering military campaign.

Yesterday Nato’s secretary general Jens Stoltenberg echoed Mr Zelensky’s concerns that the conflict could escalate beyond Ukraine’s borders. 

He added: ‘Talks are needed to prevent the conflict becoming a fully-fledged war between Nato and Russia. But it is far too early to say whether they could succeed.’

It came as US President Joe Biden declined an invitation to visit Ukraine as part of his European tour this week.

source: dailymail.co.uk