RT.com
30 Jan 2023, 19:43 GMT+10
The former British prime minister claimed the Russian president had made the comments in a telephone call last February
Allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a missile strike are "a lie," Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Johnson's accusations have emerged in a new BBC documentary about the crisis in Ukraine.
Recalling a telephone call with Putin on February 2, 2022, just under three weeks before tensions over Ukraine escalated into full military action, Johnson claimed the Russian leader "threatened me at one point."
"He said, 'Boris, I don't want to hurt you but, with a missile, it would only take a minute' or something like that... jolly," the former PM told the British broadcaster.
"There were no missile threats," Peskov told reporters on Monday. "When he explained challenges to the security of the Russian Federation, President Putin remarked that if Ukraine joins NATO, the potential deployment of NATO or American missiles at our borders would mean that any missile could reach Moscow in mere minutes."
The Russian official wondered if Johnson had lied deliberately or "simply didn't understand what President Putin was talking about." If the latter is true, people should be concerned for Johnson, Peskov added.
Putin has publicly voiced Russian concerns over NATO infrastructure in Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe for decades. Russia began military operations against Ukraine after failing to get security guarantees from Washington, which would have rolled back the deployment of NATO assets in Eastern Europe and suspended its expansion in the region. The US dismissed Moscow's concerns and claimed that Ukraine was free to seek membership as a sovereign nation.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of The UK News news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to The UK News.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks were volatile again Friday as President Donald Trump blasted Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for...
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Europesn Central Bank has slashed official interest rates in the wake of the financial crisis triggered by...
BISMARCK, North Dakota: Federal officials have ordered the company running the Keystone Pipeline to take several safety steps after...
GANAPAVARAM, India/GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador: India's shrimp exporters are facing mounting uncertainty as new U.S. tariffs threaten to disrupt...
NEW YORK, New York - Technology stocks fell sharply Wednesday, dragging down the industrial sector in its wake, as Donald Trump's trade...
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE/TOKYO: U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his opposition to a foreign takeover of U.S. Steel, casting renewed...
(250418) -- FRANKFURT, April 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Ange Postecoglu, head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, instructs during the UEFA Europa...
Madrid [Spain], April 17 (ANI): Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave the club after the Copa del Rey final on...
(Photo credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images) Expect the ball to be in play, and likely hit on the ground, when the Texas Rangers host...
(250417) -- MADRID, April 17, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois celebrates after blocking a penalty by Bukayo...
(250417) -- MILAN, April 17, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Inter Milan's head coach Simone Inzaghi (L) celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions...
(Photo credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images) The Texas Rangers look to increase their hold on the top spot in the division when they...