The Times accused Putin of using history as a "weapon of mass distraction" Journalist Mark Bennetts published an article criticizing the Russian president, citing the publication in the "Financial Times" of his allegedly lengthy history lecture to the leaders of Finland and Norway. The negotiators, including the Finnish, Norwegian and Russian sides, have previously denied this version of events. However, the FT continued to insist on the veracity of its unnamed sources.
Despite the denials, the story formed the basis for a new publication in the British press.