Kremlin warns Boris Johnson it has a 'surprise' for those who compare Russia to Nazi Germany
The Kremlin has warned Boris Johnson that it has a “surprise” in store for those who have the “impudence” to compare Russia with Nazi Germany.
In a veiled warning to the Foreign Secretary, Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, claimed that the UK is using the Salisbury attack as part of a “black PR” campaign to turn the West against Russia.
Describing Mr Johnson’s comparisons between Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Putin as a “colossal provocation,” Ms Zakharova told Russian reporters that there would be repercussions for Britain.
“We have a surprise for all who have the impudence to compare, to draw parallels between Russia and the Third Reich,” she added.
" Let's wait until Thursday, I promise to unveil a historic gift at a press conference. The gift is for Boris Johnson and everyone. "
It comes after Mr Johnson compared Russia’s actions to those of Nazi Germany, telling MPs last week that it was “certainly right” to compare this summer’s Fifa World Cup with the Berlin Games of 1936.
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The Foreign Secretary went further two days later, telling reporters during a trip to Lincoln that Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 shared similarities with the invasion of the Sudetenland prior to Second World War.
Mr Johnson’s comments were met with a withering response from the Kremlin, which accused him of being “poisoned with venom of hate, boorishness and unprofessionalism”.
Meanwhile, Theresa May’s decision to blame Russia for ordering the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia has seen Western leaders rally behind Britain.
Following a meeting of the European Council in Brussels last week, as many as 10 European leaders are preparing to expel Russian diplomats, including France, Ireland, Holland, Denmark.
The Prime Minister is expected to announce the reciprocal measures in an update to MPs on Monday afternoon.
In the wake of growing condemnation, the Kremlin has moved from denying its involvement in the attack to suggesting that Mr Skripal’s poisoning was conducted by the British intelligence services.
Today, Ms Zakharova claimed that Britain could “not defend their thesis”, adding that EU leaders came to their conclusions without a “single fact” or “argument” that proved Russian involvement.
“[It] does not even remotely resemble a trial.”