Questions for Putin

YES, it may be too early to conclude definitively that Russian state agents were responsible for the poisoning on British soil of Russian former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, who remain critically ill.

But it is certainly looking more and more likely. The Kremlin had motive and means – owning one of the few laboratories capable of manufacturing deadly nerve agents. Assassinations – as the radioactive poisoning of defector Alexander Litvinenko showed – are part of its modus operandi.

And while Russian officials issue denials, Vladimir Putin drops dark hints, saying: ‘Those who serve us with poison will eventually swallow it and poison themselves.’

Whatever the truth, the fact remains that Putin runs a gangster state, invaded Ukraine and is the architect of slaughter in Syria. It was an appalling misjudgment for the greedy moneymen in football to hand him the World Cup in the first place.

So Prince William is quite right to say he will not attend. But that will not be enough to stop the tournament being a huge propaganda coup for Putin.

The Mail realises it would not be popular among fans, but if Russia’s involvement with this attempted murder is incontrovertibly proved, a boycott deserves the most profoundly serious consideration.