Former junior Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood recounted an unexpected 15-minute encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a European leaders' summit, during which he used British astronaut Tim Peake to defuse potential tension.
Ellwood, writing in his book "Ten Steps To Prevent World War Three," described being alone with Putin and deciding against directly condemning the recent annexation of Crimea, believing it would be unproductive. Instead, he opted for a more indirect approach.
He informed Putin that a friend of his was concerned about the availability of Russian transport for his upcoming journey to the International Space Station. When Putin appeared puzzled, Ellwood identified the friend as British astronaut Tim Peake, who was scheduled to travel to the ISS aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket.
According to Ellwood, Putin smiled upon hearing this and responded, "Mr. Ellwood. Tell Mr. Peake we will not abandon him."
The incident, which occurred at a summit of European leaders, highlighted Ellwood's strategy of finding common ground or shared interests to foster communication, even in sensitive geopolitical contexts. The book's title suggests a broader focus on conflict prevention strategies.