Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for Western nations to immediately deploy noncombat military personnel to Ukraine, marking a significant departure from current allied strategy. Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Johnson advocated for positioning troops in peaceful regions of Ukraine to demonstrate unwavering Western commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty.
The controversial proposal, outlined in a BBC interview scheduled for broadcast Sunday, challenges the current coalition approach that envisions troop deployment only after a ceasefire agreement. Johnson, who emerged as one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters during his premiership, argued that delaying military presence effectively cedes initiative to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
‘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 questioned. ‘There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn’t send peaceful ground forces there to show our support.’
Western military planners have consistently avoided public discussion of such deployments due to concerns about Russian perceptions of escalation. Putin previously declared in September that any international troops entering Ukraine would be considered ‘legitimate targets.’
In response to Johnson’s remarks, Britain’s Ministry of Defense reaffirmed its current strategy: ‘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.’
Johnson contextualized the current conflict within broader Western foreign policy failures, citing inadequate response to the 2014 Crimea invasion, failure to punish Bashar al-Assad for chemical weapons usage in Syria, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. He asserted that these events collectively emboldened Putin’s aggressive actions in February 2022.