By Teddy Trower-
Boris Johnson says the UK wants better relations with Russia because they are “not on a good footing” but he wants them to improve. .
Mr Johnson’s comments come on the first UK foreign secretary to visit Russia in five years. Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister accused the UK of being insulting ahead of the meeting.
Johnson accused Britain of making a series of “aggressive and insulting” public statements ahead of their meeting, saying Russia had done nothing to justify being seen as an aggressor, in relation to its actions in Ukraine and Syria.
“I cannot recall any of Russia’s actions that would be aggressive in relation to the United Kingdom. We did not blame London for anything.
“On the contrary, we have heard accusations, even insultingly formulated – that we support the criminal regime in Syria, that we are aggressors, that we are occupiers, we annex other territories.
“And all this despite the fact that on all the regional issues in question, and on many others, all information about what our position is, what it is based on, is regularly provided.”
EVIDENCE
Mr Johnson stood his ground by stating that there was “abundant evidence” of Russian interference in polls in the US, Germany, Denmark and France.Twitter recently revealed how several accounts belonging to Russians had been used to sow discord during the American elections. The social media giant also further confirmed that hundreds of Russian twitter accounts were used to further tensions in the UK following terrorist attacks in Britain this year.
Mr Lavrov attempted to undermine Johnson’s claim by telling the UK Foreign Secretary that he himself had said Russia had not interfered in Britain’s general election and Brexit referendum. However, Boris Johnson interjected and added: “Not successfully.”
The UK foreign secretary acknowledged the “difficulties” in relations with Russia, describing it as a” regrettable state of affairs but it should not preclude co-operation.”
Johnson’s confirmation that the pair had identified common ground on issues such as North Korea, Syria and trade was encouraging. He also said the UK and Russian security services should coordinate ahead of next year’s World Cup. Mr Lavrov then expressed trust in Johnson when he said: “I trust Boris and I trust him to an extent that I am ready to call him BorIs [Russian-style pronunciation] rather than BOris.”
Mr Johnson said he adopted the approach Ronald Reagan had taken with Mikhail Gorbachev: “Trust, but verify.”
The press conference attended by several journalists and freelancers came after the UK had prepared Boris Johnson to warn Russia to desist from Cyber attacks which threaten Britain’s national security.Russia’s denial of any cyber attacks aimed at threatning Britain’s national security means they can’t promise to stop an activity they claim doesn’t exist. What it does mean or suggest is that Russia wmay do all in its power to prevent or expose any Russian entities conducting Cyber attacks, as it seeks to improve relations with Britain, which the Foreign Minister admitted was ”at a low point”.
PROGRESSIVE
The statements made by both Foreign ministers were candid with nothing held back, but they were also notably progressive.
Johnson’s joke that his trust was so great that he had handed his coat with “everything in my pockets, secret or otherwise” to Mr Lavrov when he arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building went down well, and was a good sign of a developing rapport.
Mr Lavrov joked back:
“I can say that there was nothing in the pockets of Boris’s coat”, to which Mr Johnson responded in surprise: “So you have searched it already?”
The rapport between the pair is unbelievable, but it remains to be seen if any tangible improvements occurs in the relationship between the UK and Russia.