Macron 'in denial' of Russian intentions ahead of Ukraine invasion, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has claimed that France was "in denial" of Russia's hostile intentions towards Ukraine before the February invasion, while accusing the German government of initially favoring a quick victory for Moscow.

The former prime minister risked deeply offending European allies in his assessment of their attitudes to the impending war in an interview with CNN.

And a spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed his claims as "absolutely absurd", saying: "We know that the highly entertaining former prime minister still has his own report to the truth. As such, I think the facts run counter to the truth. 'innuendo I heard in this interview,'”