Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched an explosive attack on US President Donald Trump’s peace proposals, claiming they reward Vladimir Putin in five key ways. Mr Johnson, who was the first Western leader to travel to and openly support Ukraine after the illegal Russian invasion in 2022, took to X to share his frustration with Washington.
He was posting the morning after a brutal Kremlin drone and rocket attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which is thought to have killed or injured at least 100 civilians. Mr Johnson wrote: “Putin indiscriminately butchers more Ukrainian civilians, killing and injuring 100 in Kyiv including children. And what is his reward under the latest peace proposals?” The former Conservative leader then listed the five ‘rewards’ he believed President Putin was getting from the current US deal.
He wrote: “1, The right to keep sovereign Ukrainian territory he has taken by violence and in breach of international law, 2, The right to control Ukraine’s destiny by forbidding Nato membership, 3, The lifting of sanctions against Russia, 4, An economic partnership with America, 5, The chance to rebuild his armed forces for the next attack in a few short years’ time.”
Mr Johnson, 60, added: “As for Ukraine – what do they get after three years of heroic resistance against a brutal and unprovoked invasion? What is their reward for the appalling sacrifices they have made – for the sake, as they have endlessly been told, of freedom and democracy around the world?
“Apart from the right to share their natural resources with the United States they get nothing. What is there in this deal that can realistically stop a third Russian invasion? Nothing.
“If we are to prevent more atrocities by Putin then we must have a long term, credible and above all properly funded security guarantee for Ukraine – a guarantee issued by the UK, the US and all western allies.”
President Zelensky said the large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv by Russia overnight was “one of the most outrageous” of the war. He was speaking on a visit to South Africa, which he said he would cut short to return home because of the attack that killed at least nine people and injured more than 70 in the Ukrainian capital.
Mr Zelensky said preliminary information indicated more than 250 drones and ballistic missiles were involved in the attack that targeted civilians. The Ukrainian leader also said he was committed to a peace deal with Russia but the latest attack meant the future of negotiations “depends on Russia’s intention because it is in Moscow where they have to make a decision.”
It comes as President Trump launched an extraordinary attack on the Ukrainian wartime leader after the latter said Ukraine was not prepared to recognise Russian control of the Crimea, a part of Ukraine annexed by the Kremlin in 2014.
Writing on his Truth Social site, the 78-year-old Mr Trump raged: “Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognise Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?
“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelensky’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire – He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
Later, Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he has “a deal with Russia” and has “got to do a deal with Zelensky”.
He added: “I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky, so far it’s been harder.”
