'Boris Johnson doesn't like us and we don't like him' – Kremlin

7 Jul, 2022 11:40 / Updated 2 years ago
Moscow not shedding tears at British leader's exit, Putin's spokesman indicates

The feeling of resentment between Boris Johnson and Russia is mutual, the Kremlin has said as the UK Prime Minister announced his departure from office.

“The government crisis [in Britain] is wide-ranging, we see that,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

Johnson tendered his resignation on Thursday after more than 50 senior government officials, including secretaries and ministers, resigned over disagreements with the prime minister.

“As for Mr. Johnson, he really doesn’t like us, and we [don’t like] him either,” Peskov said.

The British leader has been a strong voice for supplying Kiev with weapons and imposing sanctions on Russia over its military campaign in Ukraine.

Johnson released a statement last month, saying that “Ukraine is on a knife-edge and we need to tip the balance of the war in their favor.” 

Johnson was appointed prime minister in 2019 and survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament last month. His government has been embroiled in several high-profile controversies, including an investigation revealing that cabinet officials, including Johnson himself, routinely broke Covid-19 social distancing rules.