Verbal volleys exchanged in foreign ministers of UK & Russia over cyber attack allegations

Moscow: Reports of heated exchanges between the British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson and the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs are making news, during the former’s visit to Russia. On the issue of cyber attacks, the British Foreign Secretary had taken an aggressive stand, during his talks with Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov. At that time, Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, had bluntly told him to take up the issue in their face to face talks. This visit is Britain’s Foreign Secretary Johnson’s maiden visit to Russia and also happens to be the first visit to Russia in the last five years of a British Foreign Secretary.

During his talks with the Russian Minister, the British Foreign Secretary took up the issue of cyber attacks. While blaming Russia for the cyber attacks, the British Foreign Secretary warned that a fitting reply would be given to this. Johnson further stated that Britain is well aware of Russia’s activities, and added that Russia will not succeed in these.

To these allegations of the British Foreign Secretary, Lavrov, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs gave an instantaneous reply. He said that Britain levels allegations against Russia from public forums and warned that the issue should be taken during bilateral talks. Lavrov made it clear that the allegations from the Western countries in this regard are totally incorrect. Lavrov added, that Russia cannot be blamed for the present strained relations between the two countries.

The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, had accused Russia on the issue of cyber attacks, but had vouched to take the issue with Russia during the bilateral talks.