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Vladimir Putin

A report by the Russian desk of Britain's secret intelligence service sees a "growing possibility" President Vladimir Putin is prepared to resurrect the climate of the Cold War.

The report by MI6 chief John Scarlett to Downing Street comes at a time when a series of flashpoints are threatening to plunge relations between Russia and the West back into deep freeze – or possibly worse.

The report concludes Putin is willing to use Russia's very substantial oil and gas reserves as leverage.

"He demonstrated that when he switched off the gas supplies to the Ukraine last year to win a political battle between Moscow and [Kiev]. Increasingly Europe, and ultimately Britain, will become dependent on Russian gas supplies," the report says.

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The MI6 analysts also have focused on the words Putin used to warn that Russia views U.S. plans to build a missile defense system in Europe – with Poland as its lynchpin – as increasing "the risk of mutual destruction."

It is the first time since the height of the Cold War that a Russian leader has chosen such chilling words.

The former KGB officer – already furious at the way Britain continues to press its investigation into the murder of spy Alexander Litvinenko – has warned he was considering withdrawing Russia from the post-Cold War treaty intended to keep the peace in Europe.

Putin's anger was further fueled by Britain's criticism of Russia's human rights abuses in war-torn Chechnya.

Alex Pravda, a Russian expert on Russia's politics at Oxford University, said: "I have never seen Britain singled out for such critical comment. There is a new confidence and defiance in Russian foreign policy."

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