Boris Johnson claims Putin made missile threat during conversation

Boris Johnson with Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelenskyy. Picture: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire

Boris Johnson has claimed that Vladimir Putin told him “I don’t want to hurt you, but with a missile, it would only take a minute”, in a call ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The former prime minister said the “extraordinary” conversation took place in February after he had visited Kyiv in a last-ditch attempt to show Western support for Ukraine amid growing fears of a Russian assault.