Former UK PM Johnson Urges Immediate Troop Deployment to Ukraine

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is advocating for Western allies to deploy non-combat military personnel to Ukraine immediately, rather than waiting for a ceasefire agreement. Johnson argues this would demonstrate genuine commitment to Ukraine's independence and prevent Putin from dictating terms to the West.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is pushing for Britain and European partners to immediately station non-combat military personnel in Ukraine as a demonstration to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Western countries remain genuinely dedicated to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

In remarks made before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive assault on Ukraine, Johnson spoke with the BBC about positioning troops in stable areas for non-combat duties. Johnson, who served as one of Ukraine’s most vocal advocates during his tenure as Britain’s leader when the conflict began, shared these views in interview segments scheduled to air Sunday.

Should this recommendation be implemented, it would represent a significant departure from current UK and allied policy. Although the “coalition of the willing” is developing plans for troop deployment to Ukraine, such forces would only be sent following a peace agreement and would serve to monitor any ceasefire.

“If we are 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 not do it now?” Johnson said. “There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn’t send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine.”

Western defense strategists have refrained from publicly addressing such deployment options due to fears that Russia would interpret this as conflict escalation.

Putin dismissed Western peacekeeping proposals for Ukraine in September, declaring that any military personnel sent to the country would become “legitimate targets.”

However, Johnson maintained that Putin should not be permitted to set conditions for Ukraine and its supporters.

“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.”

Responding to Johnson’s statements, Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the government continues collaborating with the coalition of willing nations to prepare for post-ceasefire troop deployment to Ukraine.

“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 attributed the Ukrainian conflict to Western inaction following Russia’s 2014 Crimea invasion, along with the failure to hold Bashar al-Assad accountable for chemical weapon attacks on Syrian civilians and the chaotic US Afghanistan withdrawal.

“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.”