Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made a striking call for the United Kingdom and its allies to deploy troops to Ukraine immediately. He contends that British soldiers should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles, asserting such a move would "flip a switch" in Russian President Vladimir Putin's mindset.
Johnson's Argument for Immediate Action
In his remarks, Johnson emphasized that a delay in acting needlessly costs lives. He pointed to historical patterns where delayed support for Ukraine ultimately benefited Ukrainian forces and disadvantaged Putin. "We've always delayed needlessly," Johnson stated. "We've then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it's always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin."
Contrast with Current Government Stance
This proposal contrasts with the current approach under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is collaborating with international allies on a "coalition of the willing" to provide forces. However, Starmer's plan is conditional on a peace deal being in place, focusing on preserving peace and stability post-conflict.
Johnson challenged this conditional stance, arguing, "If we can have boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?" He stressed that any deployment would be non-combat and subject to Ukrainian consent, framing it as a political statement of support for Ukraine's sovereignty.
Historical Context and Criticism
Reflecting on past events, Johnson criticized the failure to confront Putin over the annexation of Crimea in 2014, during David Cameron's premiership, labeling it "tragic." He believes that stronger earlier actions could have altered the current trajectory of the conflict.
Recent Developments in the Conflict
Johnson's comments come amid ongoing hostilities. Recently, Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site in Russia's Udmurt Republic, reportedly a key state-owned missile factory. The attack left 11 people wounded, with three hospitalized, according to local health minister Sergei Bagin.
Government Response
In response to Johnson's proposals, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson highlighted the UK's existing support for Ukraine. "We are proud of UK leadership on Ukraine - supporting the fight today and working to secure the peace tomorrow," the spokesperson said. They noted recent initiatives, including a half-billion-pound air defence package, accelerated funding for military preparations, and collaboration with over 30 nations through the UK-led Coalition of the Willing.
Johnson remains insistent, however, that immediate, non-combat troop deployment is a logical step to demonstrate constitutional support for a free and independent Ukraine, challenging Putin's ambitions directly.
