Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine (2024)

Boris Johnson last night warned Donald Trump against 'conceding victory to Vladimir Putin' if he is re-elected as US president in November.

The former prime minister said it would be a 'disaster for the West' and 'a disaster for America' if the Russian leader was allowed to win in Ukraine.

Speaking at an event in Canadian capital Ottawa, Mr Johnson joined UK efforts to convince hesitant US Republicans to continue American funding for Kyiv.

He also reiterated his demand for Ukraine to join Nato and dismissed fears it could further provoke Mr Putin as he continues to wage war against Russia's neighbour.

Since leaving Downing Street in September 2022, Mr Johnson has continued his staunch support for Ukraine and the country's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In the latest of his speaking gigs around the world since quitting No10, Mr Johnson addressed the Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference on Wednesday.

'The resolution to this problem is the security and the stability that comes with certainty about where Ukraine is and what Ukraine is,' the ex-premier said.

'Ukraine has chosen to be a free, independent European nation oriented towards the west, towards the EU, towards Nato.

'And Ukraine must join Nato. That is the only logical way through this.'

Mr Johnson, who appeared at the event alongside Australian ex-PM Tony Abbott, said fears such a move might provoke Mr Putin should not prevent action.

'We tried that… and look where that left us,' he said. 'With the worst war in Europe for 80 years.

'Nato is the body that gives certainty and stability and will bring peace. But in the meantime, give those Ukrainians what they need.'

Mr Johnson described Ukraine as a 'formidable fighting force' and said Kyiv had often been supplied with 'the right stuff at the wrong time, in other words, too late'.

'The Ukrainians will do the job if we give them the tools. Let's give them the tools,' he said.

'They have shown they are a proud, independent nation and they are going to fight for freedom.

'What we need to do is keep supporting Ukraine, keep supporting freedom.'

In his plea to Mr Trump not to abandon Ukraine if he returns to the White House, Mr Johnson warned the Republican presidential hopefulagainst a reported plan to pressure Ukraine to cede Crimea and the Donbas border region as a price for peace with Russia.

'If you are the party of Ronald Reagan, if you want to make America great again, then you don't begin a new Republican presidency … by conceding victory to Vladimir Putin,' he added.

'It would be a disaster for the West and it would be a disaster for America.'

Mr Johnson spoke after Foreign Secretary David Cameron was snubbed by Mike Johnson, theRepublican speaker of the US House of Representatives, during his visit to Washington DC this week.

Lord Cameron had been hoping for a meeting to discuss why Republican allies of Mr Trump on Capitol Hill are holding up $60billion worth of US war aid for Ukraine.

It came after the Foreign Secretary had previously been told to 'kiss my a**' by Republican right-winger Marjorie Taylor Greene when he compared failing to give fresh aid for Kyiv to the appeasem*nt of Hitler.

Mr Johnson, speaking in Canada last night, offered a more diplomatic plea to his namesake and US Republicans.

'I would say Mike … my cousin Mike Johnson, long lost, separated …' the ex-PM joked.

'America is currently investing in the US supporting the Ukrainians about 5 per cent or less of their annual defense spending.

'It is a fantastically efficient way of supporting freedom.'

Lord Cameron this week said the funding package held up in Congress by political wrangling would be good for US security and jobs and show the West was prepared to stand up against 'bullies'.

He told CNN during his visit to Washington: 'Everyone wants to see an end to the killing and an end to the war. But you only get that by backing Ukraine, by showing strength.

'Peace comes through strength, not through appeasem*nt and weakness.'