Boris Johnson blasted for not getting tough with Russia amid fears Putin is planning fresh invasion of Ukraine
Demands for Foreign Secretary to 'up his game' on the day the Russia-backed Assad regime in Syria stood accused of mounting a sickening chlorine gas attack
BORIS Johnson has been blasted for cosying up to Russia just as President Putin threatens a new wave of mayhem in Syria and Ukraine.
The new Foreign Secretary rang his opposite number in Moscow, hardliner Sergei Lavrov, this morning “to build a constructive dialogue”, British diplomats said.
And the Kremlin revealed the two men discussed “the possible normalisation of bilateral ties”.
But the diplomatic olive branch sparked fury among MPs and campaigners who branded it “weakness” and demanded Boris “up his game”.
It came as the Russia-backed Assad regime in Syria stood accused of mounting a sickening Chlorine gas attack on besieged Aleppo.
The Kremlin has also been slammed for deepening the civil war bloodbath by sending its jets to bomb civilian areas of the war-torn city.
Security experts also fear President Putin is planning to use the cover of the Olympics for a fresh invasion of Ukraine.
Russian troops movements have dramatically picked up on the flash point borders of Crimea and Moldova in the last week.
The Foreign Office dubbed Boris’s move an” introductory telephone call”, adding: “The Foreign Secretary made clear that while we have some significant differences with Russia, we need to continue to build a constructive dialogue on issues of mutual concern as well as on points of disagreement”.
Diplomats insisted Mr Johnson also “expressed his deep concern about the situation in Aleppo”, but would not say whether he challenged Mr Lavrov on Ukraine.
But his olive branch marks a major climb down from eight months ago, when he described President Putin as “a manipulative tyrant” and said he looked like “Dobby the house elf”.
Former Tory special advisor in the MoD Luke Coffey said: “When will they ever learn that Putin isn’t someone the West can work with?
“Bush learned the hard way, so did Obama, so did Cameron.
“It now looks like May will have to learn the same mistakes all over again.
RELATED STORIES
“Boris needs to up his game or Sergey Lavrov will run circles around him.
“After all, Boris was only 8 years old when Lavrov started his diplomatic career.”
Deputy Director of the security think tank, the Henry Jackson Society, Davis Lewin added: “While diplomatic niceties are necessary, it’s very disappointing that this is happening while Russia has shown nothing but ruthlessness in Ukraine and Syria.
“What they are doing in both countries is directly detrimental to our national security, so why would we reward them with a reset in our relations?
“It just legitimises Russia’s actions. It is weakness and unacceptable.”
Mr Lewin added: “Putin is a bully, and Britain should be standing up to him.”
Commons Foreign Affairs Committee member and Labour MP Mike Gapes questioned why it took Boris four weeks in the job to start tackling Mr Lavrov.
Mr Gapes said: “Why is he only now making a first call to a permanent member of the security council now?
“It is ridiculous and very badly timed.”
Another senior Tory said talking to Russia is vital, so that we can lambast them.
But Commons defence committee chair Dr Julian Lewis told The Sun: “It is absolutely necessary to have maximum dialogue with Russia at this time, but it must be from a position of strength.
“We need to talk to them in very strong terms and make it absolutely clear we do not agree with what Russia is doing.”
Boris’s call follows new PM Theresa May’s first conversation with the Russian president on Tuesday when they agreed to meet at the G20 summit next month.
Russia has become an important trading partner for the UK, and is Britain’s fastest growing export market.
But No10 aides insisted the bid to start improving Britain’s relationship with Moscow began under David Cameron’s Premiership.
A senior Downing Street source said: “It’s about hard-headed engagement, recognising that there are areas that benefit us from having a frank and open discussion”.