Boris takes a pop at Macron

He's back! Denied power at home, Boris Johnson grabs headlines abroad. The Etonian elephant is currently marauding around Europe, firing off quotes with the ease of a Maxim gun. Speaking to CNN Portugal on Monday, Johnson discussed a veritably smorgasbord of issues: Partygate, the mini-Budget and his abortive brief-lived comeback.

But it was his reflections on Ukraine that will grab most of the headlines, given Kyiv's ongoing struggle. Now liberated from the restraints of office, Johnson told the broadcaster that France and President Macron were 'in denial' about the prospect of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying 'Be in no doubt that the French were in denial right up until the last moment.'

He also accused Chancellor Scholz and the German government of initially favoring a quick Ukrainian military defeat over a long conflict, saying: 'The German view was at one stage that if it were going to happen, which would be a disaster, then it would be better for the whole thing to be over quickly, and for Ukraine to fold', citing 'all sorts of sound economic reasons' for that approach.'

Naturally, Johnson intoned sagely: 'I couldn’t support that, I thought that was a disastrous way of looking at it. But I can understand why they thought and felt as they did.' That's probably one Christmas card off Macron and Scholz's lists...