Foreign affairs

Why Britain and Russia are in an inexorable Cold War

Johnson, the eccentric maverick that heads the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO), is likely to stick closely to the British government's script without indulging either in his trademark bellicose rhetoric (like calling for protests outside the Russian embassy in London) or in a Trump-style appraisal of the Russian leadership. The meeting scheduled for later in March, is likely to see Johnson 'do a May'.

In a speech in Philadelphia in January 2017, Prime Minister Theresa Mayspelled it out, loud and clear: “When it comes to Russia as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President Reagan who – during his negotiations with his opposite number Mikhail Gorbachev – used to abide by the adage 'trust but verify'. With President Putin, my advice is to engage but beware'."