Dan Nowicki

The Arizona Republic

Sen. John McCain went "way over the line of decency" of decency in his recent attacks on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a Kremlin spokesman said Monday.

McCain, R-Ariz., has not minced words in his condemnation of President Donald Trump's May 10 Oval Office meeting with Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States.

"I do not believe that Mr. Lavrov should be allowed in the Oval Office, and I think it's pretty obvious they turned it into their propaganda advantage," McCain last week told The Arizona Republic.

In a subsequent appearance on "Fox News Sunday," McCain ridiculed Lavrov as "stooge of a thug and a murderer," Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said McCain is known for his "maniacal hatred towards our country," but suggested the Kremlin will ignore his remarks, according to a report from Russian news agency TASS.

"He took the liberty of uttering insults on several occasions before, but this is probably for the first time ever that his words have gone way over the line of decency and departed from a tone appropriate for a statesmen of such a country as the United States," Peskov was quoted as saying.

The Kremlin spokesman also said of McCain, per TASS: "Thank God, this gentleman is not the one who shapes or implements US foreign policy. Therefore we will naturally avoid exaggerating the significance of these insulting and rude attacks or linking them with bilateral Russian-US relations somehow."

Meanwhile, Pravdaquoted a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman about McCain.

"Apparently, McCain produces more venom that he can spend on American political figures. McCain hasn't been bringing out any emotions but pity for long," Maria Zakharova said.

McCain took the criticism in stride.

In a Twitter message, McCain said: "I'm always flattered to receive such accolades from our Russian friends!"

Putin officially sanctioned McCain in 2014.