Russia: 2017's election meddling was 'hard work' - Lavrov jokes

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Well, you have not listed everything that we have done this year, Sweden, Denmark, Montenegro, Macedonia, Austria. Broadly speaking, we had to work hard, it was not easy."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "It was a fruitful year, wasn't it?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Yeah, that's why we had no time to do other things which are of no less importance such as for instance, the development of cultural ties with Japan."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Well, I hope we will adjust this next year?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "We are now adjusting it. A great successful cultural festival is underway in Japan, so, do not worry about it."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "So, Sergei Victorovich, to be honest, do you feel relief now?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Yes, but still we failed to topple the Japanese Emperor."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "It is like he intends to, doesn't he?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "But only in two years. We did our best for it to happen faster. But he begged for two more years."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Well, we hope."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "We hope."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Yes, for four years."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Have you kept your [summer] tan since then?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Yes, I regularly top up my tan."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Do you travel to Sri Lanka?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Not only there but to other countries as well where there is the slightest opportunity, for instance to Austria where I went skiing before, I got a tan in Austria, in winter."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Do you go skiing?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Yes, I go skiing. But now I have less time. I hope to do it in Sochi."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "You know, I find it difficult, I do not want to name names in order not to offend anyone, by not mentioning them."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "For sure, we are learning from the President [Vladimir Putin]."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Is he the author?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "He also uses this phrase. And, broadly speaking, I think that all those with whom we communicate are partners. But there are partners who are capable of holding talks and those are desperately incapable of holding talks, there are more and more such partners in the West."

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "He calls himself BOris. But recognises that it from Russian roots, so BorIs?"

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Does he really have Russian roots?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "He swears that his great grandmother or grandmother is five percent Russian."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "Boris Johnson recieved many recommendations ahead of the meeting with you. And you, did you give him any recommendation when he was about to depart?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "First of all, I asked why he stayed at the ambassador residence instead of a hotel. Since one of the recommendations [given by Johnson's British colleagues] was to beware of opening the door to strange girls while at hotel. He didn't comment on it saying that 'it is just more comfortable for me this way.' "

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "I think, the chances are somewhere in the middle."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "A very good answer, and most importantly very diplomatic but to be more precise?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "Well,that is how it will be somewhere in the middle."

Tigran Keosayan, Russian presenter (Russian): "So, we will enter the quarterfinals or the Czech Republic will lift sanctions?"

Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (Russian): "I think the middle will be lower."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov joked about international affairs, sarcastically commenting on Russia's alleged meddling in foreign elections and joking that Russia is planning to remove the Japanese Emperor, during an interview in Moscow on Friday.

Lavrov along with his interviewer noted sarcastically that the outgoing year was "hard" for Russia, as it allegedly had to interfere in the internal affairs of many countries including; France's elections, Catalonia's referendum, the Brexit process and many more. Lavrov remarked, "Broadly speaking, we had to work hard, it was not easy."

Both Lavrov and the presenter agreed "it was a fruitful year" for Russia, but joked, "we failed to topple the Japanese Emperor."

Recalling Lavrov's meeting with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubier in 2015, whereby Lavrov muttered 'fucking morons,' the presenter asked Lavrov who is the main "moron" in current international politics, to which Lavrov replied, "I do not want to name names in order not to offend anyone, by not mentioning them."

Lavrov also commented on whether it was more likely for relations with Western partners to stabilise, or for Russia to win the World Cup, to which he answered to both, "It will be somewhere in the middle."