EU foreign affairs chief attacks Boris Johnson for snubbing Donald Trump talks

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini has hit back at Boris Johnson after he refused to attend a special meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the bloc's relationship with the US.

The UK foreign secretary branded the talks as a "whinge-o-rama" and urged European leaders to end their "doom and gloom" over Donald Trump's shock election to the White House.

Mogherini, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, claimed other nations were unsurprised by Johnson's absence last night (13 November).

"A couple of ministers were not coming for political reasons, one in particular, you know that well," the top Italian politician said.

"But I can also share with you that some in Europe are surprised, not when that country is absent, but nowadays that it is still present around the table of the 28.

"So, I guess it is only normal for a country that has decided to leave the European Union not to be so interested in our discussions on the future of our relations with the US."

All 28 nations were represented at the informal dinner despite Johnson's decision not to attend.

Mogherini described the meeting as "very fruitful" and stressed the EU will continue to be partners with the US.

"We have decided together to engage with the incoming administration even from these very first weeks of transition," she said.

"Obviously we will continue to work day and night with the current administration but also preparing the ground for the change in administration from January, and I will be glad to not only visit Washington soon but also invite the future Secretary of State to one of our next Foreign Affairs Council."

The formal EU foreign affairs council meeting will start this morning, (14 November) while Prime Minister Theresa May reportedly faces pressure from within her cabinet to utilise Nigel Farage's connections with Trump.

The interim Ukip leader met with the president-elect at Trump Tower, New York, for around an hour on Saturday. "He was relaxed, and full of good ideas. I'm confident he will be a good -resident. His support for the US-UK relationship is very strong. This is a man with whom we can do business," Farage said.

But Number 10 has consistently ruled out using the Eurosceptic firebrand as a go-between.

Johnson, meanwhile, was among the first politicians to receive a phone call from US Vice President-Elect Mike Pence on Friday.