Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for the immediate deployment of Western non-combat troops to Ukraine, arguing such a move could fundamentally alter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategic calculations. In an exclusive interview with BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Johnson contended that if Western nations plan to station peacekeeping forces after a potential ceasefire, they should consider doing so immediately in peaceful regions of Ukraine.
Speaking alongside former UK military chief Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Johnson reflected on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion, suggesting the conflict could have been prevented had Western allies responded more decisively to Putin’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Both Johnson and Radakin acknowledged that Western support for Ukraine, while substantial, has often been delayed through months of cautious deliberation they described as ‘incrementalism.’
Johnson characterized this hesitation as needless delay that has ultimately cost Ukrainian lives. ‘We’ve always delayed needlessly,’ he stated. ‘We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin. The one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.’
The former prime minister specifically proposed that UK and allied forces could be deployed to secure areas of Ukraine in non-combat roles, such as training, logistical support, or infrastructure protection. This presence, he argued, would demonstrate constitutional support for Ukrainian sovereignty without directly engaging in combat operations.
Johnson also offered a critical assessment of Western foreign policy failures that he believes emboldened Putin, including the inadequate response to chemical weapons use in Syria, the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, and what he termed ‘the general ambiguity of the Western position’ regarding Ukraine.
Admiral Radakin separately addressed defense spending, urging the UK government to clarify its commitment to allocate 3.5% of national income to defense by 2035—a pledge made at last year’s NATO summit. He emphasized that while the UK remains secure as a nuclear power within NATO, sustained investment is essential for long-term security amid a ‘weak but dangerous’ Russia.
The proposal to deploy troops represents a significant escalation beyond current Western policy, which has consistently ruled out direct military presence. The UK government is reportedly working with allies to plan a ‘coalition of the willing’ that would provide forces only after a formal peace agreement is established.