Boris Johnson has strongly criticised European nations for failing to take sufficient responsibility for Ukraine’s defence, arguing that the burden of financial and military support should not fall primarily on the United States. Speaking in an interview, the former British Prime Minister condemned false narratives about Ukraine and stressed the need for European leaders to demonstrate real commitment to Kyiv.
Johnson dismissed claims made by Donald Trump, who recently referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator and called for elections in Ukraine. He described such statements as Orwellian and completely untrue, adding that they reflect misinformation Trump has received from unreliable sources. Johnson believes that Trump’s recent frustrations stem from the lack of progress on a minerals agreement with Ukraine, rather than a fundamental shift in his stance.
The former Prime Minister highlighted that while Trump has made controversial remarks, the United States remains committed to a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine. He pointed out that the financial burden of supporting Ukraine is disproportionately shouldered by American taxpayers, while European nations contribute far less. Johnson argued that if Europe wants Washington to remain engaged, it must take itself seriously and increase both military and financial assistance.
He stressed that European countries, particularly Britain and France, have a moral obligation to act, given their role in the Budapest Memorandum, which assured Ukraine’s security in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons. Johnson called for a credible plan from Europe to secure Ukraine and emphasised the importance of unfreezing 300 billion dollars in Russian assets, which many European nations, including Germany, France, and Belgium, have resisted.
Johnson was also critical of the recent Paris meeting on Ukraine, calling it a failure. He expressed hope that Friedrich Merz, a potential future German Chancellor, could do a better job than Olaf Scholz in leading Germany towards stronger support for Ukraine. However, he remained sceptical about whether European leaders would take decisive action.
With Trump indicating support for European nations deploying troops in Ukraine, Johnson suggested that this could be an opportunity for Britain, France, and other European countries to take a more active role in securing Ukraine’s future. He reiterated that Ukraine’s path to NATO and European Union membership should be decided by Ukrainians, not dictated by Putin or external forces.
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