Portrait of Boris Johnson
Politician · person
Wikipedia (opens in new tab)

Boris Johnson on Vladimir Putin

Staunch Putin critic (strong)

Boris Johnson has become a vocal and firm critic of Vladimir Putin, especially following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

His stance shifted significantly from earlier engagement, such as when he was Foreign Secretary and attempted a more open approach to Russia, to becoming one of the staunchest international opponents of Putin's actions.

During his premiership, Johnson directed substantial UK support, including sanctions and weapons, towards Ukraine, framing the conflict as a defence of democratic principles against Russian aggression.

Context

Boris Johnson's relationship with the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin is crucial as it defined a significant portion of his premiership's foreign policy, particularly after the 2018 Skripal poisoning.

As Foreign Secretary, Johnson was one of the most prominent UK figures condemning the nerve agent attack on British soil, which the UK government attributed to Russian state actors. This event marked a severe deterioration in the diplomatic relationship between London and Moscow during his time in that role.

Timeline

  1. As Foreign Secretary, Johnson strongly condemned the Salisbury poisoning, comparing Putin's hosting of the World Cup to Adolf Hitler hosting the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
  2. Prior to the full-scale invasion, Johnson warned that the EU must choose between supporting Ukraine and approving the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
  3. Johnson visited Kyiv and described the buildup of Russian forces near the border as the 'biggest security crisis that Europe has faced for decades'.
  4. Following the invasion, Johnson condemned the act and immediately implemented sanctions against Russia and its elites.
  5. Johnson warned against efforts to cease fire and freeze the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting continued support for Ukrainian victory was necessary.

Actions Taken

  1. Sanctions
    Johnson's government imposed international sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs following the full-scale invasion.
  2. Energy Policy
    Announced that the UK would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of the year.
  3. Military Aid
    Johnson travelled to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged significant further military aid.
  4. Energy Policy
    Warned the EU in late 2021 that it faced a choice between supporting Ukraine and approving the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

Key Quotes

Russia's action is a blatant attempt to redraw the map of Europe by force. It is an attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine and on the freedom of the whole of Europe.

Statement upon invasion February 24, 2022 — Statement condemning the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the day it began.

Imagine Trump doing Brexit. He'd go in bloody hard ... There'd be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he'd gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere.

Secret recording revealed later June 1, 2018 — Comparing his view of aggressive negotiating tactics to Trump's style.

It would be a mistake to cease fire and freeze the conflict.

Statement on the conflict July 1, 2022 — Advising against a ceasefire to allow Ukraine to push back Russian forces.

Related Positions

  • Russia-Ukraine War His stance on Putin is fundamentally shaped by his robust support for Ukrainian military and financial resistance.
  • Energy Security Johnson explicitly linked opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to supporting Ukraine against Russian influence.

Criticism

Russia's Foreign Ministry

The Ministry denounced Johnson's comparison of Putin hosting the World Cup to Hitler hosting the Olympics as 'unacceptable and unworthy' of a nation that fought Nazism.

Western leaders (implied)

Johnson argued the West had been 'too slow to grasp what was actually happening' prior to the full-scale invasion.