The Kremlin in Moscow has taken a swipe at outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has overseen consistent British support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
President Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Johnson “really does not like us – and we (do not like) him either”.
He said he hoped “more professional people” who can “make decisions through dialogue” would take over in London.
Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova told reporters Mr Johnson had been “hit by a boomerang launched by himself”, adding that the moral of the story was “do not seek to destroy Russia”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has developed a close relationship with Mr Johnson since the start of the war, has yet to comment publicly on the end of his time in office.
But his advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, took to Twitter to thank him for being “the first to arrive in Kyiv, despite missile attacks” and “always being at the forefront of supporting” Ukraine.
The Russian officials were not the only critics, however – Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s former Brexit coordinator said Mr Johnson’s reign was ending in “disgrace, just like his friend Donald Trump”.
“EU – UK relations suffered hugely with Johnson’s choice of Brexit,” he added.
Michel Barnier, the European Union’s former chief negotiator, said Mr Johnson’s departure “opens a new page in relations with” the UK – one he hoped would be “more constructive, more respectful of commitments made, in particular regarding peace & stability in Northern Ireland, and more friendly”.
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However, most international leaders haven’t yet addressed Mr. Johnson’s imminent departure – possibly waiting until it is confirmed.
But news outlets around the world have reported the dramatic events as they happened.
Source: BBC
