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Boris Johnson PHOTO: Reuters
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that strained relations between the two countries are not at the level desired by London, AFP reported, citing a statement from the government’s press service.
In addition, Johnson expressed regret that the Russian head of state will not attend the upcoming global climate summit, BTA reports.
This was the first conversation between Johnson and Putin since May last year.
“Significant difficulties remain,” a spokesman for the British prime minister added, pointing to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal on British territory in 2018, as well as the Ukrainian problem.
“Despite the problems, it would be useful for Moscow and London to co-operate on certain issues,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated over a number of conflicts over the past 15 years, including the 2006 poisoning of former spy Alexander Litvinenko in Britain, the Skripal case and diplomatic issues over Syria and Ukraine.
During the conversation, Johnson expressed regret that Putin would not attend the UN climate conference, which begins in Glasgow on Sunday. The British Prime Minister has expressed hope that Russia will achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, instead of 2060, as currently announced.
More than 120 world leaders are expected to attend the meeting, but neither Vladimir Putin nor Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to attend, raising fears that an agreement will be difficult, AFP reported.
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