Merkel, UK intelligence exchange information on Putin and Ukraine

10:00, 24.12.2015 1 min read

German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged information with British intelligence on Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine, The Times reports.

British "senior spies" briefed Merkel on the threat posed by Islamic radicals, while the German leader provided the British Security Service (MI5), the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) with information on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the situation in Ukraine, the newspaper said on Thursday.

The intelligence exchange took place during Merkel's October visit to the United Kingdom. The secret briefing was attended by British Prime Minister David Cameron, MI5 Director General Andrew Parker, MI6 head Alex Younger and director of GCHQ Robert Hannigan.

According to The Times, direct information exchanges between British intelligence representatives and the German Chancellor are rare, although intelligence exchanges between UK and German special services are held on a regular basis.