British astronaut Tim Peake once feared being stranded in space because of the worsening relationship between Russia and the UK.
Peake was particularly worried that Russia will abandon him in the International Space Station (ISS) if the situation in the West and Moscow aggravates. It can be remembered that in 2014, the British government suspended its military ties with Russia.
Conflicts between the nations persisted, and because Peake was to ride a Russian Soyuz rocket for his space mission, his doubts crept in long before the mission. Such thoughts were only revealed, however, on May 4 by UK Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood during a Westminster Hall debate.
The Meeting
Ellwood confirmed that during the 2015 European Games in Azerbaijan, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that Peake would not be abandoned.
Ellwood explained that during that meeting, he told Putin that his friend is about to use a Russian transportation but was worried about internal conflicts between the East and West, risking him to be stuck up in space and never be able to go back.
Peake's Worries
That friend was none other than the first British astronaut to have ever flown to space under the European Space Agency.
When Ellwood shared Peake's worries to Putin, he said the president just grabbed him by the arm and said that Peake will not be left to stay in the ISS forever.
"Mr. Ellwood, tell Mr. Peake we will not abandon him," says Putin.
Indeed, Peake was able to fly up to the ISS using the Soyuz FG rocket back in December 2015. He will stay there for a six-month mission and, while at it, conduct different interesting projects like running the London Marathon up in space.
Russia The Villain
During the debate, Ellwood asked leaders to boost cooperation between the UK and Russia. He adds that it is possible to set apart some of the big problems and the sanctions being given in and out so that the two nations can persist with these relationships.
British politician and member of Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham named Tory Daniel Kawczynski started the debate by saying that he was highly concerned about the growing anti-Russian notions within the Commons, and President Putin is nearly looked at as a pantomime villain of some kind.
