Former UK Prime Minister Johnson Urges Allies to Deploy Support Troops in Ukraine Before Ceasefire

LONDON – Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is urging the United Kingdom and its European allies to promptly station noncombat personnel in Ukraine. This move, he suggests, would convey to Russian President Vladimir Putin the unwavering commitment of Western nations to Ukraine’s sovereignty and liberty.

In an interview with the BBC, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, Johnson recommended deploying troops to non-conflict zones in supportive roles. Known for his strong backing of Ukraine during the initial stages of the conflict while he was Prime Minister, Johnson’s remarks are set to air in a full interview on Sunday.

Should Johnson’s proposal be adopted, it would signify a significant change in policy for the UK and its partners. While there are ongoing discussions among a “coalition of the willing” to potentially send troops, such a deployment would traditionally occur only after a peace agreement has been reached, serving as a means to enforce the ceasefire.

Johnson argued, “If we are prepared to deploy troops in the scenario of a ceasefire, which effectively hands control to Putin, why not act now?” He further emphasized, “There’s no compelling reason to delay supporting Ukraine’s independence through noncombatant forces.”

Thus far, Western military strategists have refrained from openly discussing such measures, wary that Russia might interpret them as an escalation in hostilities.

Putin in September rejected Western proposals for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying that any troops deployed to the country would be “legitimate targets.”

But Johnson said Putin shouldn’t be able to dictate terms to Ukraine and its allies.

“It’s about whether Ukraine is a free country or not,” he said. “If it’s a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it’s up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it’s not, then it’s up to the Ukrainians.”

When asked about Johnson’s comments, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said the government was continuing to work with the coalition of the willing to prepare for the deployment of troops to Ukraine after a ceasefire.

“The multinational force Ukraine under UK leadership will secure peace for the long term, with the Prime Minister being clear that we will put British troops on the ground following the end of hostilities,” the ministry said in a statement.

Johnson said the war in Ukraine was the result of the West’s failure to support Ukraine after the invasion of Crimea in 2014, as well as its inability to punish Bashar al-Assad for using chemical weapons against his own people in Syria and the debacle of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons,” he said.

“I think Putin was further emboldened in February 2022 by what he’d seen in Afghanistan, and a sort of general sense that the West was on the back foot. He’d seen those appalling pictures of Americans being forced to flee Afghanistan and the UK pulling out as well, and that really did embolden him.”