Boris Johnson has called for British troops to defend Ukraine’s borders as part of any ceasefire deal.
The former Prime Minister said that peace-keeping responsibilities should be given to a multinational group of European countries, in order to defend Kyiv against Vladimir Putin, who he likened to Adolf Hitler.
As Donald Trump’s inauguration draws closer, the end to the war in Ukraine could also be on the horizon. The president-elect has said he would end the war in a day, though he is yet to provide details as to how.
Yesterday, Putin praised the “intelligent” Trump, and he said he was open to engage in a dialogue with the US.
Boris Johnson has called for British troops to defend Ukraine’s borders as part of any ceasefire deal
Getty/Reuters/PA
Johnson told The Telegraph: “I don’t think we should be sending in combat troops to take on the Russians.
“But I think as part of the solution, as part of the end state, you’re going to want to have multinational European peace-keeping forces monitoring the border [and] helping the Ukrainians.
“I cannot see that such a European operation could possibly happen without the British.”
He said that Western nations should be transparent about any security or funding guarantees offered to Ukraine as part of the deal.
MORE LIKE THIS:
Johnson was Prime Minister when the war kicked off in February 2022
PA
Johnson put forward the possibility of Ukraine joining Nato – the treaty binds all members to the other’s defence if they attacked.
“The only thing that really works is a Nato Article 5 guarantee that has kept the peace in Europe for 80 years.
“It’s the reason the Baltic states are in Nato. It’s the reason that the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, Finns and the Swedes are now in Nato.”
However, many member states are nervous about the prospect of letting Kyiv join in fear of retaliation from Russia, who are adamant Ukraine stays out of the 32-member military alliance.
Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walk at Kyiv’s ‘Maidan’ Independence Square
Getty
Putin has been likened to Hitler by Johnson
Reuters
Speaking to the publication yesterday, he likened Putin to the German World War Two leader, stating that his rhetoric about protecting Ukraine and Russia is “straight out of Hitler’s playbook”.
“And as with Hitler, unless he is resisted, it will get worse”.
Yesterday, Zelensky spoke with Sir Keir Starmer as Ukraine’s power grid is being bombarded by Russian forces ahead of a potentially gruelling winter.
He said the latest attack by Putin is yet another act of Russian air terror targeting Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, involving over 90 missiles and nearly 100 drones”.
One million homes have lost power in the war-torn nation, according to Ukrainian officials.