[Discussion] Johnson Calls for European Peacekeepers in Ukraine Amid Policy Shifts

[Uncrowned Guard]

Boris Johnson Advocates for European Peacekeepers in Ukraine

The former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, suggested a multinational European peacekeeping force, inclusive of British troops, as an essential aspect of a possible peace deal in Ukraine, during a recent interview with The Telegraph’s Ukraine: The Latest podcast. Johnson emphasized that this move would not involve sending combat troops to engage Russian forces yet function as an instrumental means of monitoring and safeguarding the Ukrainian border.

Shift in US's Ukraine Policy Anticipated Post Trump's Victory

Anticipating Donald Trump's triumph in the 2024 elections and shifting policies surrounding Ukraine, the world leaders stand on uncertain ground. With no concrete information about Trump's Ukraine plans and his assertion to end the war within "24 hours", world leaders are led to consider various potential outcomes. A report by The Telegraph on November 7, citing three Trump aides, suggested possible deployment of British and European troops by Trump to maintain a buffer zone along the current Ukrainian frontline, constituting a part of his potential peace strategy.

According to Boris Johnson, a Trump supporter, a European operation of this sort can't be envisaged without involving the British forces. He also mentioned that clear security guarantees should be outlined.

The UK's Stance on Deploying Combat Troops in Ukraine

Johnson's notion of deploying combat troops in Ukraine was countered by an earlier report suggesting discussions between the U.K. and France regarding sending soldiers or private defense contractors to Ukraine after Trump's election. But the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy on Nov 26, clarified that London had no such intentions to dispatch military personnel into Ukraine.

Johnson’s belief in the UK's moral obligation towards Ukraine, as a signatory of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, extends to the fact that the agreement’s assurance to demilitarize Ukraine and strip it of its nuclear power has fallen short of defending Ukraine against Russian hostility.

Extension of NATO Membership to Ukraine

Johnson, a strong supporter of Ukraine, firmly upholds the extension of NATO membership to Ukraine, considering it the sole long-term solution to ensuring peace and stability. The reluctance of NATO countries to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the military alliance has led Johnson to stress the importance of clearly defining the potential security guarantees for Kyiv in a peace agreement.

Reflecting on the views of Ukrainian officials in the year-long peace negotiations, Boris Johnson emphasizes the necessity of concluding the war with discussions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on striving for an end to the war through diplomatic means and anticipates a quicker resolution during Trump's administration.

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