MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin was not aware of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's alleged intentions to create an alliance that would be a structure parallel to the European Union. Nevertheless, if such a bid exists, Johnson was proposing a "closed-door clique" to undermine the EU’s positions.
"We don't know if Boris Johnson had such initiatives, in that case it would mean that he is proposing some sort of closed-door clique in order to undermine the position of the EU, a pan-European association that Britain itself has left," he told reporters on Friday.
Commenting on an article by the Corriere della Sera newspaper citing sources about Johnson's initiative, Peskov urged that it be treated as "a media report." "Any media report cannot be taken as a primary source now. They must be questioned," he insisted.
Earlier, the newspaper reported that the proposed London-led alliance would include Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. According to the prime minister's idea, later on, Turkey could also join the so-called European Commonwealth. According to sources, the British initiative is aimed at countries that cherish their national sovereignty, espouse liberal economic views, and oppose Moscow's policy.