Russia Denies Putin Threatened Boris Johnson With Missile Attack in Pre-War Phone Call

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) meeting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has made a surprise visit to Kyiv, on June 17, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/PA Media

Russia has denied former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s claim that President Vladimir Putin threatened him with a missile strike in a call ahead of the invasion of Ukraine.

In a new BBC documentary series, Johnson said the “extraordinary” conversation took place in February 2022, days before Russia launched an assault on Kyiv on Feb. 24.