Key facts
- Kremlin envoy Kirill Dimitriev alleged Boris Johnson sabotaged Russia-Ukraine peace talks for a £1 million donation.
- The donation was reportedly from Christopher Harborne, an investor with shares in a company supplying military equipment to Ukraine.
- Russian state media has amplified claims that Johnson was responsible for the failure of the March 2022 Istanbul peace negotiations.
- The Guardian article that Russian media cited did not mention the failed talks or the word 'bribe'.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called claims of Johnson derailing talks 'illogical'.
- Boris Johnson has dismissed the allegations as 'Russian propaganda'.
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dimitriev has reignited claims that former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sabotaged the early Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations in March 2022. Dimitriev alleged on X that Johnson scuttled a draft agreement after receiving a £1 million donation from a military drone manufacturer. This narrative has been amplified by Russian state media, which cited a Guardian article to claim Johnson received money to disrupt talks. However, the Guardian piece did not mention the failed Istanbul talks or the word 'bribe'. The businessman in question, Christopher Harborne, donated £1 million to Johnson in November 2022, two months after Johnson left office, and reportedly has shares in a company supplying military equipment to Ukraine. Harborne also accompanied Johnson on a visit to Ukraine in September 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously dismissed similar claims as 'illogical', stating he never approved ultimatums. Johnson himself has labelled the allegations as 'Russian propaganda', noting his multiple visits to Ukraine both in and out of office.