Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine instigated the ongoing war with Russia.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Johnson described Trump’s remarks as inaccurate and suggested they were aimed at pressuring European nations to take a firmer stance on the conflict.
Trump’s controversial assertions, made during a televised address, included the claim that Kyiv initiated hostilities with Moscow, along with the incorrect statement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval rating had plummeted to just 4 percent. He also suggested that Ukraine should hold an election despite being in the midst of an invasion.
Downing Street has remained silent on Trump’s remarks as European leaders prepare for a second high-level meeting in Paris this week to formulate a collective response to the U.S. president’s stance.
Responding to Trump’s claims, Johnson firmly rejected the notion that Ukraine had provoked the war, likening the argument to suggesting that the United States attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor.
“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.”
Boris Johnson
Johnson also countered Trump’s claims about Zelensky’s popularity, stating that the Ukrainian leader’s approval ratings were similar to Trump’s. The former prime minister further stated that European nations have to act decisively rather than focusing on Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric.
“The US believes Belgium, France, and other countries are blocking. It’s absurd. We need to get serious and fast.”
Boris Johnson
He also posed a pointed question to European leaders: “When are we going to stop being scandalized about Donald Trump and start helping him to end this war?”
Criticism Mounts Over Trump’s Position
Johnson’s rebuke comes after relative silence on the Ukraine issue, as he sought to maintain a diplomatic relationship with Trump following his return to the White House. However, he is not alone in his condemnation.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also denounced Trump’s statements, saying they reward Russian aggression rather than holding it accountable.
“We have tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are refugees in our city because of Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. What beggars belief is for the president of the USA to be rewarding the aggressor, not just in terms of giving him the 20 percent of Ukraine that they currently occupy, but also somehow blaming President Zelensky for what’s happened over the last two years.”
Sadiq Khan
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army colonel and security analyst, also criticized Trump’s statements, warning that they play into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hands.
“I agree with Boris – Trump is talking bollocks and being hoodwinked by Putin. He said he’d end the war in 24 hours. He’s living in some sort of fantasy land and doesn’t seem to realize people are dying out there as he ‘show boats.’ We, along with Europe, need to step up our support to Ukraine.”
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also weighed in, stressing the importance of U.S. support in securing a long-term resolution to the conflict. Ahead of his upcoming visit to Washington, Starmer urged the United States to provide a “backstop” to any negotiated settlement between Kyiv and Moscow.
He suggested that this backstop would be crucial for the UK to advance its proposal to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine. Trump, however, downplayed the need for U.S. military involvement, stating, “We’re very far away,” despite expressing support for the idea of British peacekeeping forces on the ground.
Trump’s comments have sparked renewed tensions between the U.S. and its European allies, with many questioning Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense. His stance also raises concerns about the stability of transatlantic relations and the broader geopolitical balance.
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