New Delhi, Nov. 15 -- MOSCOW - Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disputed Boris Johnson's account of being made to drink vodka during his 2017 visit to Moscow, saying on Sunday that the former British foreign secretary had a choice of drinks and repeatedly asked for more.

wine was available, she said, but Johnson chose what he wanted.

The dispute concerns a private lunch almost nine years ago. Contemporary British government records establish the date and diplomatic purpose of Johnson's visit, but do not settle how much alcohol he drank or whether he felt pressured to drink it.

Zakharova told Komsomolskaya Pravda that Johnson "could have chosen the wine that was standing in front of him," according to the exchange pu...