Frosty reception awaits Boris Johnson in Moscow Read moreJohnson is the first UK foreign secretary to visit Russia for five years, after a period in which Moscow’s relations with the west have deteriorated. Johnson’s objectives are likely to include probing the possibility of leveraging Russia away from Iran over the future of Syria. Iran is determined to maintain a militia force within Syria, but needs the support of Damascus – and Russia – to do so. Johnson will make clear to Lavrov that the UK would be responsive to a change in stance. The Kremlin has positioned Russia in direct opposition to the west, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

Source: The Guardian December 22, 2017 00:38 UTC