Russia rejoices at the resignation of Boris Johnson.
The official Kremlin has criticized outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has overseen continued British support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation.
The spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, said that Johnson “really doesn’t like us – and we [don’t] want him”.
He said he hoped “more professional people” who could “make decisions through dialogue” would take the lead in London.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that Johnson had been “hit by a self-inflicted boomerang,” adding that the moral of the story was “don’t seek to destroy Russia.”
As expected, contrary statements have come from Ukraine.
The presidency has thanked the politician for his support in “the most difficult times”.
Conversely, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky developed a close relationship with Johnson from the beginning of the war.
His adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, tweeted earlier to thank Johnson for being “the first to arrive in Kiev despite the missile attacks” and “always being at the forefront of supporting” Ukraine.
However, Russian officials were not the only critics.
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s former Brexit coordinator, said that “EU-UK relations suffered greatly with Johnson’s Brexit choice”, adding that his reign was ending “in disgrace, just like his friend Donald Trump”.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s former chief negotiator, said Johnson’s departure “opens a new page in relations” with the UK – one he hoped would be “more constructive, more respectful of the commitments made, especially about peace and stability in Northern Ireland – and friendlier”.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin also saw the resignation as a chance to restore relations with the United Kingdom. He admitted in an official statement that he had “not always agreed” with Johnson, saying relations between the governments had been “strained and challenged recently”.