British officials believe Boris Johnson will seek “constructive relationship” with Russia

New British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday appointed key Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson as British Foreign Secretary and Russian officials have reacted to the news with optimism, hoping that the new appointment will usher in a period of warmer relations between the two countries.

Alexei Pushkov, the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the State Duma said on Twitter that he hoped the appointment would have a positive impact on British-Russian relations, The Moscow Times reports.

Similarly, the head of the inter-party group on Russia in the British Parliament, Sir Edward Lee believes that Johnson will most likely seek a “constructive relationship” with Russia, according to RIA Novosti.