Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has admitted that he still admires Russian culture despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"I am still a Russophile. I am still fascinated by the language, culture and Russian civilisation. Only a fool will not admire it," Johnson said in an interview with journalists of the national joint 24/7 newscast.

At the same time, he said that he was "very sad about what is happening now", "I think it will be absurd to pretend that the Russian people do not support this war, and this is a tragedy," the politician said.

When asked what the future of Russia would look like, Johnson said that "it matters what the future of Ukraine will be".

"This is a country that has been attacked. And it is the Ukrainians who need our support. Ukraine must be free, and Ukraine must be independent. Ukraine must choose its destiny," the former UK Prime Minister said.

Last year, Johnson condemned Russian troops for trying to destroy Ukrainian culture in the territory they seized.

When he was UK Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Johnson declared that he was a "convinced Russophile" and was really interested in improving relations with Russia. He emphasised that he became the first foreign secretary of the UK, whose name is Boris.