Bernie Ecclestone has said he would 'still take a bullet' for Vladimir Putin as the former Formula 1 boss defended the Russian president over his invasion of Ukraine.
The billionaire called Putin 'a first-class person' and insisted he is not to blame for the casualties of the ongoing war in a bizarre interview on Good Morning Britain - which has been condemned in a statement by F1
Ex-F1 chief executive Ecclestone is a close friend of Russian president Putin - the two pictured here at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi in 2018
Putin has been branded a war criminal by many western leaders - including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden - over Russia's bombing of hospitals, apartment buildings, a shopping mall and a theatre housing children.
However, 91-year-old Ecclestone still considers Putin a close friend and defended the Russian president, claiming he 'believed he was doing the right thing' by ordering the invasion.
The F1 supremo also laid blame at the feet of Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, pointing out his previous profession as a comedian and insisting a peaceful solution could have been found had he sat down with Putin for talks.
Asked if he still regards Putin as a friend, Ecclestone told ITV live from Ibiza: "Yeah, I'd still take a bullet for him.
"Because he's a first-class person and what he's doing is something that he believed was the right thing for Russia."
It is not the first time the ex-F1 chief has said this, having declared in 2019 that he would 'stand in front of a machine gun' to save the Russian, calling him a 'good guy'.
Ecclestone shocked viewers with his interview backing Putin
Asked by GMB host Kate Garraway if he believes war could have been avoided had Zelensky acted differently, rather than Putin, Ecclestone replied: "Absolutely.
"Unfortunately he's like a lot of business people, certainly like me, we make mistakes from time to time, and when you've made the mistake you have to do the best you can to get out of it.
"I think if it had been conducted properly - I mean the other person in Ukraine [Zelensky], his profession I understand he used to be a comedian, and I think he seems to want to continue that profession.
"Because I think if he had thought about things he would have definitely made a big enough effort to speak to Mr Putin, who is a sensible person and would have listened to him and probably done something about it."
Presenter Ben Shephard then probed Ecclestone, insisting he can't possibly defend Putin and justify the many thousands of casualties in Ukraine.
Good Morning Britain hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard appears equally stunned by the ex-F1 chief
Ecclestone replied: "I don't. It wasn't intentional - look at all times America has moved into different countries which is nothing to do with America.
"And I'm quite sure Ukraine, if they'd wanted to get out of it properly, could have done."
Asked if he has spoken to Putin about the conflict or urged him to stop the invasion, Ecclestone said: "No. He's probably thought about that himself. He probably doesn't need reminding.
"I'm absolutely sure he now wishes he hadn't started this whole business, but didn't start as a war."
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