Putin intends to 'undo the good' of Mikhail Gorbachev, says Boris Johnson

Vladimir Putin intends to "undo good " of Mikhail Gorbachev and trying to "recreate this Soviet empire", said Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to the former leader of the Soviet Union, who died at the age of 91 years, describing him as "one of those people who changed the world and unquestionably changed it for the better".

Mr. Johnson said: "When you look at what he did to make Europe whole, free, to give freedom to the countries of the former Soviet Union - it was quite an extraordinary thing."

He added: "Maybe he paid the political price, but when history is written he will be, I think, one of the authors of a fantastic change for the better in the world. ."

PM s Gorbachev - who introduced major reforms and helped open the Soviet Union to the world in the late 1980s - is said to have found the invasion of Ukraine by Russia "absolutely unthinkable".

RecommendedConservative Leadership - Live: Sunak warns mar chess could lose faith in UK economy Johnson refuses to rule out a 'comeback' as prime minister" height="56" width="82" layout="responsive" class="i-amphtml-layout-responsive i -amphtml-layout-size-defined" i- amphtml-layout="responsive"/>Boris Johnso n refuses to rule out a "comeback" as prime minister =230&auto=webp" alt="Vladimir Putin expresses his "sincere condolences" after the death of Mikhail Gorbachev" height="56" width="82" layout="responsive" class="i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined" i-amphtml-layout= "responsive"/>Vladimir Putin expresses his "sincere condolences" on the death of Mikhail Gorbachev

"What worries me today is that the current leaders in Moscow intend to undo the good of Mikhail Gorbachev, and intends to attempt revenge, an attempt at revenge, to recreate this Soviet empire,” Mr Johnson said.

“You see this in Ukraine - this is the tragedy edie, something that Mikhail Gorb...