Johnson Claims He Did Not Call Putin Due to Party, New International Scandal Brewing

On February 1, the scheduled phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson did not take place. This was announced during a press briefing by Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president. “Today, February 1, no conversation is planned; we have not announced a talk between Putin and Johnson, but we do not rule out that some dates can be agreed upon and the conversation will occur,” noted the Kremlin representative.

Earlier, Reuters reported, citing a representative of the British Prime Minister, that Putin and Johnson might have a phone conversation on January 31, which was later changed to indicate it would take place on February 1. Johnson stated that he would call Putin “as soon as he finds an opportunity.”

According to media reports, the conversation with Putin was postponed due to Johnson’s speech in parliament. There, he justified himself by saying that he did not call because he had been at a party. The Prime Minister has been accused of hypocrisy.