Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond has suspended his show on Russia Today following the invasion of Ukraine.
After months of speculation, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a military incursion of Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning - putting millions of lives at risk and sparking widespread horror and condemnation around the globe.
The Kremlin-backed Russia Today news channel has come under fire in recent days for its anti-west stance on the conflict, with culture secretary Nadine Dorries and Labour leader Keir Starmer leading calls for its UK broadcasting licence to be reviewed.
Salmond - head of the Scottish government between 2007 and 2014 - has hosted a weekly talk show on the channel since November 2017, but despite criticism has always insisted that his programme has complete editorial independence and is free from interference by the Russian state.
Current first minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier this week that she was "appalled" that her predecessor was continuing to broadcast on RT given recent events and urged him to "reflect" on the situation.
Now Salmond has confirmed that he will no longer present new episodes of his show until 'the re-establishment of peace has been secured'.
In a statement, he said: "We now have the worst of all fears - a hot war in Europe. The efforts of every single person should be to re-establish the peace. That certainly is our focus, and therefore Slàinte Media have decided to suspend The Alex Salmond Show until that can be secured.
"There is no productive point in having the future of a television show dominate Prime Minister's Questions as it did yesterday, when politicians should be rising to the occasion of the great issues of peace in Europe."
He added: "All wars come to an end. Let us pray that this one will not escalate even further. Now every single persons' efforts should turn to supporting attempts to regain the peace."
Other notable presenters on RT have included George Galloway and the late Larry King.
Neil Wilkes
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