President Trump could end the war in Ukraine by the end of the year if he imposes tougher sanctions on Russia, Boris Johnson has claimed.
In an exclusive interview with GB News, the former Prime Minister said Mr Putin is in a “far weaker position” than is realised and that an economic “punishment beating” would result in an end to the conflict.
Discussing the ongoing conflict with GB News Political Correspondent Katherine Forster, Mr Johnson said he would back the deployment of British troops to Ukraine and praised the US for being willing to back a peacekeeping force.
The former Tory leader said: “The first thing to say about the Ukrainians is that they remain absolutely heroic. After more than three years of war, they are still unbeaten.
Boris Johnson said he would back British troops in Ukraine if it meant a ‘secure Ukraine’
|
GB NEWS
“Putin still holds less than 20 per cent of their country. He still can’t capture those bits of the east, Pokrovsk, all that bit around there that everybody said he was going to get about a year ago. He’s making glacial progress. In fact, he’s being reversed.”
Praising the work of US President Donald Trump in his efforts to de-escalate the war, Mr Johnson told GB News: “Whatever people say about Trump, I understand people’s frustration about the kind of moral equivalence that is drawn between Russia and Ukraine by the White House, it’s infuriating to hear this kind of thing. We know who’s in the right, it’s black and white. It’s good versus evil.
“Ukraine is a completely innocent wronged party. We all know that it was sick-making to watch Putin being welcomed to America like that.
“But Trump, to be fair to him, has actually continued to let the weapons go to Ukraine, which is the most important thing.”
Urging Mr Trump to go further in his sanctions against Russia, the former Prime Minister explained: “He has actually toughened sanctions on those who use Russian hydrocarbons and putting big tariffs on the Indians, who are big buyers of Putin’s oil and gas.
“That’s something very, very serious. It’s something that has driven the Indians to try and source their oil and gas from elsewhere.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Mr Johnson claimed that if Donald Trump pressures Vladimir Putin, the Ukraine war could end ‘this year’
|
GB NEWS
“It’s something that we in the UK whatever are posturing, have not yet done ourselves. And so what I think needs to happen now is punishment beating, I think that’s right.
“I think what is needed now is for Donald Trump to follow his instincts, really toughen up on economic sanctions.”
Pointing out Mr Putin’s “weakened position” in the conflict compared to Ukraine, Mr Johnson stated: “I think that Putin is in a much, much weaker position than people say.
“Russia is getting really mauled on its hydrocarbon production by Ukraine. I think the problems they’ve got in the refineries are very serious.
“You’re seeing a 10 per cent reduction in Russia’s output of gasoline, you’re seeing shortages of fuel, inflation is going up, as I say.
“Couple that with failure on the battlefield, Putin’s position, and what I would say to President Trump, and sometimes I do communicate this, is Putin’s position is much, much weaker than people think, I think probably weaker than Putin’s advisors are telling him.”
He added: “And I think if Donald Trump applies the pressure that he can and he’s then backed up by Britain and Europe, I think that there can be a real change here, and I think this war could be over by the end of the year.”
The former Prime Minister sat down with GB News Political Correspondent Katherine Forster for an exclusive interview | GB NEWSAsked if he is comfortable with the prospect of British troops being deployed to Ukraine, he said: “Yes, I am, but only in the context clearly of a victory for Ukraine, but in a secure Ukraine, because that’s what you need, or peace that can be properly managed.
“Look, be in no doubt, the most effective guarantors of Ukrainian freedom are going to be the Ukrainian armed forces. They are heroes. They have shown that they have the capacity to defend their country.
“What we need to do is to continue to give them the equipment and, sure in the context of a peace, then, yes, the UK and other countries can backfill and provide training and reassurance.”
He concluded: “And by the way, another thing that Donald Trump has said is that he is willing, and he is going further here than Biden ever did. Joe Biden never did.
“Trump is saying that he is willing to back that peacekeeping force up with intelligence, with logistics, even with air power. That’s a massive thing for the US to commit to.”
