MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson clashed yesterday over Russia’s alleged interference in the Brexit vote on the first official visit by a foreign minister from London in five years, reports AFP.

The outspoken Johnson arrived in Moscow to try to open lines of communication after years of antagonism and the two diplomats made attempts to show their two countries were willing to consider rapprochement and overcome years of differences.

But they also exchanged barbs on everything from Russia’s alleged interference in British politics to Moscow’s meddling in Ukraine and Syria and the atmosphere at times grew tense during their final news conference.

The two appeared to clash over allegations that Russia had sought to influence the Brexit vote last year, with Lavrov urging Johnson to come up with hard evidence proving Russia’s alleged interference.

Lavrov told reporters Johnson had told him that Russia did not interfere in the Brexit vote.

“Not successfully,” Johnson shot back. “See, he has to say this so that he is not criticised back home, for his reputation,” Lavrov responded.

“It’s your reputation I’m worried about, Sergei,” the British diplomat responded with a smile.

Following the 2016 referendum on Brexit, in which Johnson campaigned to leave the EU, Britain has joined the growing number of Western countries accusing Russia of interfering in their political systems. At the same time Lavrov praised his talks with Johnson, saying he felt no “hostility,” and added that Moscow was ready for dialogue with London on equal terms.

“We are ready to develop dialogue on a very wide range of issues on the basis of principles of equality (and) taking into account and respecting each other’s interests,” he said.

Johnson for his part called himself a “committed Russophile” and said he wanted to see an improvement in ties between the two nations.