A threat to kill

a “very long, most extraordinary call” with the Kremlin.

As he explained in ‘Putin vs the West’, the Russian leader at that time maintained he would never invade his former Soviet neighbour. But, even as they spoke, battalions from the Russian military were building close to the border with Ukraine.

Boris said that he warned Putin not to try and invade because that would only lead to sanctions against Moscow. He also pointed out that such a move would mean “more NATO, not less NATO” on Russian borders.

Boris recalled: “He sort of threatened me at one point and said, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute’, or something like that,” the former PM continued.

The crossing is located outside the famous recording studios of the same name, where the Beatles recorded so many of their classic tunes. Their 1969 album Abbey Road features one of the most memorable and famous record cover designs of all time. It shows the Fab Four crossing the London road in a single file.

Now a sprightly 80 years old, the famous singer­songwriter was not even shaken by the incident.