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‘Things aren’t easy between us’: Boris Johnson meets Russian counterpart in Moscow ‘Things aren’t easy between us’: Boris Johnson meets Russian counterpart in Moscow
(about 2 hours later)
Boris Johnson has begun talks in Moscow with the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as he makes the visit to the country by a British foreign secretary for five years. Boris Johnson and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have sparred over the issue of alleged Russian meddling in the Brexit referendum during the first visit by a British foreign secretary to Moscow for five years.
In public comments before the talks, Lavrov chided Johnson for his public criticism of Russia and said the miserable state of bilateral relations was London’s fault. Lavrov made the latest in a series of blanket Russian denials over interference in western votes, and said Johnson himself had said there was “no evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit referendum”.
“We haven’t seen any evidence except that for four kopecks someone put an advert on social media,” Lavrov said.
Johnson then corrected the Russian minister, saying: “‘Not successfully’ is what I said.”
“He’s scared that if he doesn’t disagree with me, his reputation will be ruined at home,” Lavrov said.
“Sergei, it’s your reputation I’m worried about,” Johnson retorted.
The exchange, only half joking, was symptomatic of the deep discord in the relationship. In public comments before the talks, Lavrov chided Johnson for his public criticism of Russia and said the miserable state of bilateral relations was London’s fault.
“It’s no secret that our relations are at a low point and that’s not at our initiative,” Lavrov said. “We’ve noticed you and other western countries have your reasons for this and you prefer to speak about them publicly. We would prefer to discuss these issues directly, not in public through microphones.”“It’s no secret that our relations are at a low point and that’s not at our initiative,” Lavrov said. “We’ve noticed you and other western countries have your reasons for this and you prefer to speak about them publicly. We would prefer to discuss these issues directly, not in public through microphones.”
Johnson conceded that “things are not easy between us at the moment”, noting that Britain had issues with Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the western Balkans and cyberspace.Johnson conceded that “things are not easy between us at the moment”, noting that Britain had issues with Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the western Balkans and cyberspace.
However Johnson also said “we must not allow ourselves to be defined by these problems”, adding that there were a number of issues of global importance, notably Syria and North Korea, on which the countries should try to work together. Johnson also said, however, that “we must not allow ourselves to be defined by these problems” and that there were a number of issues of global importance, notably Syria and North Korea, on which the countries should try to work together.
He also referenced the long history of bilateral relations going back to Elizabeth I and Ivan the Terrible, and also noted current cultural and trade links, telling a bemused-looking Lavrov that exports of “Kettle crisps” and Bentleys from Britain to Russia were doing well. He also referred to the long history of Anglo-Russian relations going back to Elizabeth I and Ivan the Terrible, andnoted current cultural and trade links. He told a bemused-looking Lavrov that exports of Kettle crisps and Bentleys from Britain to Russia were doing well.
The two ministers will hold a press conference after the talks before having lunch together. Later in the day, Johnson will meet civil society activists and give a speech to Russian students at a Moscow university. After the talks, Johnson said: “There is no point in simply sitting on the sidelines and complaining about each other, we have to engage, we have to talk to each other.”
Neither side expects any major breakthrough in the strained bilateral relationship, which has not been repaired since the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. Relations have been further impaired in recent years by Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and allegations of Russian meddling in the politics of western nations. Lavrov said the pair had discussed a range of international issues, including Syria, Iran, North Korea and Ukraine, but there was little sign of any agreement or concrete proposals on any of the issues.
His comments on cyber-attacks, a warning to the Kremlin that Britain is ready and able to retaliate in kind, come weeks after Theresa May used a high-profile speech last month to accuse Vladimir Putin of using cyber-espionage and disruption to sow discord in the west and warned Moscow: “We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed.” After the press conference the two ministers were due to have lunch together, and later in the day Johnson is due to meet civil society activists and give a speech to Russian students at a Moscow university.
They also follow the revelation on Wednesday that GCHQ has developed sophisticated cyber-weapons capable of crippling a hostile state. Lavrov’s brush-off over the interference claims was to be expected, as Russia has denied all allegations of hacking, cyber armies or other forms of meddling.
Such discussions are likely to be met with a frosty response, however, as Russia has denied all allegations of hacking, cyber armies or other forms of meddling. Russian officials have mocked the paucity of the public evidence provided over the allegations that Russian interventions on social media had an effect on the outcome of the EU referendum in Britain. Russian officials have mocked the paucity of the public evidence provided over the allegations that Russian interventions on social media had an effect on the outcome of the EU referendum in Britain.
The UK-Russia talks are the third time this year that Johnson has announced a visit to Moscow, but the previous two occasions he cancelled the trip at the last minute. In April, the trip was called off in the aftermath of the Khan Sheikhun chemical attack and subsequent US airstrikes against a Syrian government airbase. Johnson has twice previously this year cancelled trips to Moscow at the last minute. A trip in April was called off in the aftermath of the Khan Sheikhun chemical attack in Syria and subsequent US airstrikes against a Syrian government airbase.
Johnson also irritated the Russians with a newspaper interview on the eve of his visit in which he compared the country to Sparta: “closed, nasty, militaristic and antidemocratic”. Johnson irritated the Russians with a newspaper interview on the eve of his visit in which he compared the country to Sparta, “closed, nasty, militaristic and antidemocratic”.
However, Johnson also wants to engage Russia on a host of international problems for which cooperation or at least coordination with Moscow are key, including issues involving Syria, Iran and North Korea. However, Johnson wants to engage Russia on a host of international problems for which cooperation or at least coordination with Moscow are key, including issues involving Syria, Iran and North Korea.
The Russians have welcomed Johnson’s visit but warned they would not allow London to cherrypick the topics of discussion.
“Picking and choosing dialogue on issues of interest for Britain, as British officials have been saying in their public statements, is inadequate … and of little added value to us,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry. Zakharova said the visit would be pointless if it was not accompanied by “real steps” aimed at improving bilateral relations.
The UK was a firm supporter of the European Union’s decision last week to roll over sanctions on Russia and continues to insist that Moscow must live up to the terms of the Minsk agreement requiring it to cease support for armed separatists in Ukraine.
Also on the agenda for Johnson’s visit is the issue of cooperation ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, including consular issues for travelling England fans and security issues. England will play their group games in three provincial Russian cities: Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod and Kaliningrad.