UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The former UK Prime Minister dismissed Trump’s statement that Ukraine initiated the war with Russia, describing it as inaccurate and a tactic to pressure Europe.
Mr Johnson has rejected the newly elected American president’s allegation that Ukraine triggered the conflict with Russia, labelling it misleading.
What did Boris Johnson say about Trump’s statement regarding the Ukraine war?
Ex-prime minister, in a post on X, criticised the US president’s remarks on Ukraine, stating that his comments
“are not intended to be historically accurate, but to shock Europeans into action.”
He stated,
“Of course Ukraine didn’t start the war. You might as well say that America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor,”
adding,
“Of course a country undergoing a violent invasion should not be staging elections. There was no general election in the UK from 1935 to 1945.”
Mr Johnson tweeted,
“Of course Zelensky’s ratings are not 4 percent. They are actually about the same as Trump’s.”
When are we Europeans going to stop being scandalised about Donald Trump and start helping him to end this war?
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 19, 2025
Of course Ukraine didn’t start the war. You might as well say that America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor.
Of course a country undergoing a violent invasion should…
The former PM asserted that the US perceives Belgium, France, and other countries as blocking efforts, calling the situation “absurd” and stressing the need for swift and serious action.
He challenged European leaders to stop focusing on Donald Trump’s remarks and instead take concrete steps to end the conflict.
What did Trump claim about Ukraine, and how did Downing Street react?
US President Donald Trump sparked controversy with his inaccurate claims that Kyiv triggered the war, while also alleging that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating was just 4 percent and urging the country to conduct elections.
Number 10 has yet to comment on Trump’s statement, as European leaders are due to meet again in Paris this week to formulate a response to the US president’s position.
What does Starmer’s “backstop” proposal mean for peacekeeping?
Ahead of his visit to Washington next week, Keir Starmer called on the US to act as a “backstop” for any peace settlement between Moscow and Kyiv.
The Prime Minister argued that this backstop would be essential for Britain to carry out its plan to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.
Sir Keir’s visit to the US is prompted by discussions with political leaders and industries regarding the steel tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Britain.
What did Boris Johnson say about Trump in the past?
Last October, in an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Johnson maintained that Trump would prevent Putin from fulfilling his expansionist targets, describing the Russian president’s plans to ‘relaunch an evil empire of Moscow’ as a serious threat.
He highlighted Donald Trump’s reaction to the 2018 Salisbury assault, where Russian agents were sent by Putin to murder Sergei Skripal, a former spy, using the military-grade nerve agent, in Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The former prime minister added,
“It’s very, very important that we understand that Ukraine’s fight is existential for freedom and democracy in Europe and if Ukraine goes down, it is an absolute catastrophe. And he [Trump] understands that.”
Mr Johnson was the first Western leader to meet Ukrainian President Zelensky after the Ukraine-Russia war in February 2022. He has since made multiple visits to Ukraine on several occasions, both in office and after his tenure.