Vladimir Putin is seeking to weaponise the Miss Universe contest by giving state backing to Russian contestant Anna Linnikova.
The model, 22, refused to answer a question on what she will say to Miss Ukraine when they meet for this month’s pageant held in New Orleans.
In contrast, Ukrainian contestent Viktoria Apanasenko, 28, has spoken movingly about the “evil” and “cruelty” inflicted on her country by Putin.
