Ex-UK Prime Minister Johnson calls on allies to send noncombat troops to Ukraine ahead of ceasefire
LONDON (AP) — Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain and its European allies must act immediately Deploy non-combat troops He traveled to Ukraine to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that Western nations are truly committed to the nation’s freedom and independence.
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale offensive invasion of UkraineJohnson told the BBC that soldiers should be sent to peaceful areas in non-combat roles. Johnson’s comments Ukraine’s most loyal supporters It included extracts from an interview as Britain’s leader in the early months of the conflict, to be published on Sunday.
If accepted, Johnson’s offer would mark a major policy shift for Britain and its allies. “Coalition of Volunteers” working on plans Such a deployment to send troops to Ukraine would occur only after an agreement to end the conflict was reached and would be 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 and all the power in Putin’s hands, why wouldn’t we do it now?” Johnson said. he said. “I can 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.
Putin in September rejected Western proposals to establish a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying any troops deployed to the country 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 to send troops to Ukraine after the ceasefire.
In a statement, the Ministry said, “The British-led multinational force in Ukraine will secure peace in the long term; the Prime Minister has made it clear that we will field British troops after the end of hostilities.” he said.
Johnson said the war in Ukraine was the result of the West’s failure to support Ukraine. occupation of Crimea Besides failing to punish Bashar Assad in 2014 use chemical weapons against its own people in Syria and 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 feeling that the West was being left behind. He had seen those horrifying photographs of Americans having to flee Afghanistan and the United Kingdom retreating, and that really encouraged him.”
