Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Vladimir Putin threatened him with a missile attack in a telephone conversation before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The alleged dialogue between Putin and Boris Johnson was revealed in a BBC documentary examining Putin’s interactions with world leaders.
Johnson warned Putin that invading Ukraine would lead to Western sanctions and more NATO troops on Russia’s borders.
He also told Putin that Ukraine would not be recognised in the “foreseeable future”. He tried to deter Russian military action by saying he would not join Nato.
According to Johnson, Putin responded negatively to Britain’s appeal.
“At one point he threatened me and said cheerfully, ‘Boris, I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile it will only take a minute’.”
According to the BBC documentary Putin vs. the West, on 11 February, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace flew to Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
Wallace reportedly left with assurances that Russia would not invade Ukraine, but both sides knew this was a lie.
Describing it as bullying or a show of force, Wallace said of his meeting with Russia, “I’m going to lie to you, you know I’m lying, and I know you know I’m lying, and I’m going to lie to you anyway. I think it’s about some kind of show of force.”
