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BORIS JOHNSON HAS claimed that Vladimir Putin told him “I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute”, in a call ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Johnson, who would emerge as a vocal backer of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration in the months after Russia invaded, made the claim in a new three-part series for BBC Two looking at how the West grappled with Putin in the years leading up to the war in Ukraine.
Talking about a phone call between the two leaders ahead of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Johnson said: “He sort of threatened me at one point and said: ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute’, or something like that.”
But the Kremlin has disputed the claim, saying there were “no threats with missiles” during the bilateral conversation held in February 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked about Johnson’s comments today, said that the British politician’s account was untrue, “or, more precisely, it was a lie”.
Peskov said the former Conservative Party leader may have deliberately lied or failed to understand what the Russian leader was telling him.
“There were no threats with missiles,” Peskov said during a conference call with reporters.
“While talking about security challenges to Russia, President Putin said that if Ukraine joins Nato, the potential deployment of US or other Nato missiles near our borders would mean that any such missile could reach Moscow in minutes.”
Johnson told the documentary producers that the “extraordinary” conversation took place last February after he had visited Kyiv in a last-ditch attempt to show Western support for Ukraine amid growing fears of a Russian assault.
War would break out only days later, with Russia launching its attack on Kyiv on 24 February.
Johnson said Putin had a “very relaxed tone” and an “air of detachment” as he spoke.
“He was just playing along with my attempts to get him to negotiate,” Johnson said.
The former British prime minister, who left Downing Street in September after being forced from office following a series of controversies, made the visit to Kyiv in early February to warn Russia that an invasion would prove disastrous.
Since leaving No 10, he has continued to foster relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visiting Kyiv again earlier this month.
During his contribution to the documentary, Johnson recalled that he warned Putin there would be tougher Western sanctions if he ordered an invasion of Ukraine.
He also said he told the Russian leader that the escalation would only see Western states increase support for Ukraine, meaning “more Nato, not less Nato” on Russia’s borders.
“He said: ‘Boris, you say that Ukraine is not going to join Nato any time soon. […] What is any time soon?’ And I said: ‘Well it’s not going to join Nato for the foreseeable future. You know that perfectly well,’” Johnson said of the call with Putin.
It was after those remarks that Putin mentioned the missile attack, according to Johnson.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also spoke to the Putin Vs The West programme, set to air this evening, about his journey to Moscow in February as he sought to reach a breakthrough and see off war.
The programme also hears from Zelenskyy about his efforts to win over Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking today, said Britain should be “really proud” of the action it has taken in standing up to Russian aggression.
Sunak highlighted how the UK had recently provided heavy tanks – Challenger 2s – to Kyiv to help with its defence.
“We were the first major country to do that. What that has led to is other countries, like America and like Germany, saying they will do the same thing,” he said during a Q&A in county Durham.
“That is really important because it will provide the support that Ukraine needs to, hopefully, make more progress against Russia over the early part of this year.”
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if the attacker didn’t have a difficult background theyd be saying he comes from a good home &the attack was “out of character for him ” that’s the Irish legal system for you the aggressor is always the victim.that said I’m amazed he got a jail sentence atall & wasnt just given around of applause and sent off with a suspended sentence
There’s no mention of it but to get thst sentence his previous convictions must of been high. Bad journalism for not including that
But hitting a complete stranger with a chair in McDonalds because the stranger’s friend gave you “bad vibes” doesn’t merit a custodial sentence? And judges wonder why they are despised…
In fairness that guy thought his victim was a little f****t whilst off his face on heroin. Extenuating circumstances, like.
Sounds severe to me. No real malice, no intent to harm, no premeditation, just a messy drunken scenario between acquaintances that got out of hand and resulted in two punches. Given the procession of pond life with 50+ previous convictions for serious crimes that walk from the courts daily, laughing at yet another suspended sentence, this case seems different given the information contained in the article.
He is one of those
@David Mac Shite:
No intent to harm?
What article did you read?
This offence is deserving of a 12 and a half year sentence so he gave him 5. Less than half. And he will probably be out in less than half that again. Joke
April 2014?! The wheels of justice are grinding to a halt
5 years for punching someone?
There are people charged with manslaughter, rape, child abuse, aggravated burglary, drunk driving resulting in death, embezzlement of millions etc etc and they get a lesser sentence.
Impossible to understand the logic of the Irish legal system.
Here we go again.just thinking ok, The number one training point for solicitors is to focus on the harsh and deprived upbringing their violent clients have had and that will surely get them off or a much reduced sentence.Its so wrong. This thug will do this again and again.
@Gerry Fallon:
Not for the next few years anyway.
What a total halfwit.
Ah come on,that was my first ever post.
Hopefully your last too
Zing!
Test
@Alex Falcone: did you read the article? Life changing injuries! He should have got the maximum sentence!
@Sylvia O’Regan: Our world is not a perfect place and sometimes you have to hit someone – most often without intention of “life changing injuries”.
Another light sentence but hopefully this serves as a warning. The victim was a bloody idiot. Who shouts abuse at random strangers on the street? Your asking for trouble
@John Reese:
You should read the story again. They knew one another. They were not total strangers.
If you want an insight of our judical system and the waste of time and money ,Go to high court,judments and determinations asylum
Whilst it’s not nor excusable something tells me from reading above the victim was total slime. Anyone saying paki or threatening to stab someone someone in the neck with a needle and pestering is a laughing stock of the world. Slimiest lowest of the low. Pathetic.
have your say