标签： Europe

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.

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.

BUDAPEST, Hungary — In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Hungary has declared it will veto the European Union’s proposed €90 billion ($106 billion) financial assistance package for Ukraine until Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline are fully restored. The announcement came from Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who accused Ukrainian authorities of deliberately obstructing energy supplies to Central Europe.

The diplomatic confrontation stems from the January 27 interruption of Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia, which occurred after Ukrainian officials reported damage to the Druzhba pipeline following a suspected Russian drone attack. Both Central European nations, which maintain exemptions from EU sanctions on Russian oil imports, have alleged without presenting concrete evidence that Ukraine is intentionally delaying the resumption of flows.

In a social media address delivered Friday evening, Minister Szijjártó characterized Ukraine’s actions as economic blackmail, stating: ‘We will not yield to this pressure tactic. While we don’t support Ukraine’s military efforts, we refuse to bear the cost. Until Ukraine permits oil transit to Hungary, we will obstruct EU decisions beneficial to Ukraine.’

This funding blockade represents the latest in a series of confrontational moves from Budapest, coming just days after Hungary suspended diesel shipments to Ukraine and mere days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The position highlights Hungary’s outlier status within the EU and NATO, as nearly all other member states have dramatically reduced or completely eliminated Russian energy imports since February 2022.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government continues to maintain that Russian fossil fuels remain essential for Hungary’s economic stability, arguing that alternative energy sources would trigger immediate economic collapse—a position disputed by numerous energy experts. As the Kremlin’s most vocal supporter within the EU, Orbán has consistently opposed sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector and repeatedly threatened to veto Union-wide support measures for Ukraine.

The €90 billion loan package, approved by the EU in December to address Ukraine’s military and economic requirements over the next two years, already faced opposition from Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. A compromise arrangement had previously been reached wherein these nations abstained from blocking the loan in exchange for financial safeguards.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced an urgent governmental review of violent political activist groups following the fatal beating of a far-right student in Lyon, an incident that has intensified political hostilities ahead of France’s upcoming presidential election.

Macron confirmed he will convene high-level meetings with ministers next week to evaluate extremist organizations with political affiliations, signaling potential disbandment of certain groups. “In the Republic, no violence is legitimate,” Macron declared during his appearance at the Paris agriculture fair. “There is no place for militias, wherever they come from. We must be absolutely uncompromising.”

The crisis emerged after 23-year-old Quentin Deranque succumbed to brain injuries sustained during clashes between far-left and far-right activists outside a student event featuring far-left lawmaker Rima Hassan as keynote speaker. Seven individuals now face preliminary charges, with Lyon prosecutors seeking indictments for intentional homicide, aggravated violence, and criminal conspiracy. Six defendants face all three charges, while the seventh is charged with complicity.

Deranque’s death has ignited fierce political recriminations, particularly targeting the France Unbowed party and its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Among those implicated is a parliamentary aide to France Unbowed lawmaker Raphaël Arnault, who established the anti-fascist group The Young Guard. Opposition figures accuse the party of inciting violence through its confrontational far-left politics, though Mélenchon has vehemently denied responsibility and condemned the tragedy.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of escalating political tensions, with municipal elections approaching next month and Macron’s final term concluding next year. Lyon, identified by intelligence services as the historical cradle of French far-right activism, has experienced increasing clashes between newly formed far-left groups and long-established far-right organizations.

Despite planned memorial gatherings organized by far-right groups, Deranque’s parents have appealed for calm and declined participation. Authorities have permitted the demonstrations but will maintain significant police presence to prevent further violence.