The former British Prime Minister spoke to an Estonian journalist in an interview with Eesti Ekspress on January 9. The news site has now shared an excerpt in which Mr. Johnson is added.
Asked about Putin’s illegal attack on Ukraine and the threats made in recent years against the Baltic countries through the Kremlin and Russian propagandists, Johnson said: “What Putin is doing is archaic and barbaric, and he will have to perceive that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, none of those countries are no longer part of the Russian Empire, nor is Ukraine.
“It’s over, it’s over, it’s over, there is no empire Vladimir, you fucking idiot, excuse my language. ”
Mr Johnson was the first Western leader to travel to Ukraine following Russia’s illegal invasion in February 2022. During his visit, he offered his and Britain’s support to the country and President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Johnson drew parallels to the end of the British Empire and how a country will have to come to terms with the fact that times are changing.
Speaking about his conversations with Putin in the run-up to the Ukraine war, Johnson said in a separate interview that at one point the Russian despot had threatened Britain with a “missile attack. ” The Kremlin has since denied the allegation.
Speaking in a BBC documentary, Mr Johnson claimed that during a phone call with Putin, the Russian president “threatened me at one point, and 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”.
Johnson added: “But I think, judging by the very calm tone he adopted and the kind of detachment he seemed to have, he just played along with my attempts to get him to negotiate. “
At the time, the British government and NATO were fervently attempting to stop the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but it was clear the Kremlin had other ideas, with a spokesperson seemingly making an underhand jab at Mr Johnson implying he was “utterly confused”.
On February 3, 2022, the Kremlin said: “Russia and President Putin are open to talking to everyone. Even to those who are absolutely confused, he is willing to give exhaustive explanations. »
Just 21 days later, Russian forces invaded Ukraine.
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The former Conservative leader has become something of a hero to the people of Ukraine and the ex-PM enjoys a close relationship with President Zelenksy.
A street in a town close to the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa in Ukraine was renamed from Mayakovsky Street to Boris Johnson Street in his honour, just weeks after Russian invaded.
A Council spokesperson said at the time: “The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is one of the most powerful sides in the Russian invasion conflict, a leader in sanctions against Russia and in the defense of Ukraine. »
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