Boris Johnson: Trump is harder on Russia than Obama

At event in Sydney, UK foreign secretary backs US president's handling of 'Russia problem' and seeks to allay Brexit fears

Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has defended Donald Trump's handling of relations with Russia, saying the US president has taken a more uncompromising approach towards the Kremlin than Barack Obama.

Johnson, speaking in Australia on Thursday, voiced strong support for the way Trump had handled what he termed "the Russia problem". He rejected allegations that Trump was too close with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and said the US had been resolute in maintaining sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine.