Ex-UK PM Johnson calls for non-combat troops to Ukraine
Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has said Britain and its European allies should immediately send non-combat troops to Ukraine to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that western nations are committed to the nation’s freedom and independence.
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC troops should be sent to peaceful areas in non-combat roles.
The comments by Johnson, who as Britain’s leader was one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters in the early months of the conflict, appeared in excerpts of an interview to be published on Sunday.
If accepted, Johnson’s offer would mark a major policy shift for Britain and its allies.
While the “coalition of the willing” is working on plans to send troops to Ukraine, such a deployment would only occur after an agreement to end the conflict is reached and is designed to monitor a ceasefire.
“If we’re willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power in Putin’s hands, why wouldn’t we do it now?” Johnson said. he said.
“There’s no logical reason for me to understand why we shouldn’t send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support, for a free, independent Ukraine.”
Western military planners have avoided discussing such a move publicly out of concern that Russia would see it as an escalation of the conflict.
In September, Putin rejected Western proposals to establish a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying any troops deployed to Ukraine would be a “legitimate target”.
But Johnson said Putin should not be able to dictate terms to Ukraine and its allies.
“This is about whether Ukraine is a free country,” he said.
“If it is a client state of Russia, which Putin wants, then of course it is up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If not, then it is up to the Ukrainians.”
Asked about Johnson’s comments, the UK Ministry of Defense said the government was continuing to work with the willing coalition to prepare for the deployment of troops to Ukraine after the ceasefire.
“Ukraine, a UK-led multinational force, will secure peace in the long term; the prime minister has made it clear that we will field British troops following the end of hostilities,” the ministry said in a statement. he said.
Johnson said the war in Ukraine was a result of the West’s failure to support Ukraine after it invaded Crimea in 2014, its failure to punish Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons against his own people in Syria, and the debacle of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I think Putin was encouraged by the West’s failure to punish Assad for using chemical weapons in Syria,” he said.
“I think Putin was further encouraged by what he saw in Afghanistan in February 2022 and a general sense that the West was being left behind. He had seen those horrifying images of Americans having to flee Afghanistan and the United Kingdom retreating, and that really encouraged him.”
