Boris Johnson says the EU could be forced to pay Britain a Brexit divorce bill as he blasted the bloc's negotiators for trying to “bleed this country white”.

The Foreign Secretary claimed the UK had “very good arguments” to demand money from Brussels after making major contributions to European assets.

It is expected to cost the UK up to £84bn to settle its liabilities when the country leaves the EU – a figure Mr Johnson branded “absurd”.

He said Britain could “definitely” walk away from negotiations without paying as he accused European officials of “trying it on”.

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He told The Daily Telegraph he thought Britain may even end up receiving a payment, saying: “I think there are very good arguments.

“There are assets, I don't want to get too much into the detail of the negotiation but there are assets that we share, that we have paid for over the years and there will need to be a proper computation of the value of those assets.

“I certainly think the bill that's been presented at the moment is absurd.”

Mr Johnson said the EU “is ruthless in its negotiating techniques”, citing a “shameful” leak of details of a meeting between Prime Minister Theresa May, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

“They are going to try to bleed this country white with their bill,” he said.

“The logic behind this bill is absolutely preposterous. We could definitely walk away.”

In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier listens at the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, delivers his speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit reacts during a meeting at the European Parliament in Strasbourg EPA In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage wears socks with Union Jack flag at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty Images In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Nigel Farage, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) member and MEP, addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcoming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) speaks with European commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations with Britain, French Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), addresses the European Parliament during a debate on Brexit priorities and the upcomming talks on the UK's withdrawal from the EU Reuters In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions Member of the European Parliament and former leader of the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) Nigel Farage gestures during speeches at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on April 5, 2017. The European Parliament will on April 5 lay down its "red lines" for negotiations over a Brexit deal, on which the assembly will have the final say in two years' time. / AFP PHOTO / Sebastien BozonSEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Getty In pictures: European parliament Brexit discussions The European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France Getty Images

The former Mayor of London also raised fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin could interfere with the general election “to undermine faith in democracy altogether and to discredit the whole democratic process”.

He told The Telegraph Mr Putin would “rejoice” if Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was elected and said a hack attack “is a realistic possibility” after NHS hospitals were hit by a major cyber attack.

“Putin would certainly rejoice to see British defences weakened, Britain’s foreign policy become less active, to see us detached from the United States, that would be absolute grist to Putin’s mill, that would be just what he wants,” he added.

“Clearly we think that is what he did in America, it's blatantly obvious that's what he did in France.