‘This is what friendship between peoples and countries looks like’

Johnson’s visit came a day after EU chief Ursula von der Leyen was in the Ukrainian capital. Accompanied by armed soldiers, Johnson made the walk through the city while engaging in conversations with civilians. For the British Prime Minister, the first G7 leader to be in the besieged country, it was an opportunity to present himself as a modern-day version of his hero, War Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

A true ‘bromance’ has developed between Zelenski and Johnson, a brotherly love. Zelensky has not forgotten that British soldiers have been training the Ukrainian army since 2015, after the Russian invasion of Crimea. The British were the first to send weapons to Ukraine at the beginning of this year, fearing a Russian invasion. As a result, Moscow now sees the UK as the main enemy in the West.

Johnson did not come to Kyiv empty-handed. He promised the Ukrainian president, whom he calls almost daily, 120 British armored personnel carriers and missile systems to take out naval vessels. These come on top of the military equipment worth 120 million euros that had already been pledged on Friday. Britain’s anti-tank weapons proved their worth during the war with the Red Army last week.

Leader of Knowing

After the visit, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense praised the British Prime Minister. “That’s what courage looks like,” the department tweeted, accompanied by images of Johnson on the streets of Kyiv, “that’s what true friendship between peoples and countries looks like.” In turn, Johnson praised the host. For Johnson, it’s a remarkable resurrection. Political posthumous letters were written a few months ago, but now he is taking advantage of himself as a leader of the West.

On the island, comparisons are drawn with the war in the Falklands, exactly forty years ago. Retaking the islands from the Argentine occupier saved Margaret Thatcher’s premiership at the time. The liberation also contributed to the fall of the military junta. Behind the scenes, Johnson owes much to his Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace, who has had to engage in internal struggles with his own officials in supplying weapons.

While military aid is now moving forward, the reception of refugees remains a weakness for the British. The Ministry of the Interior still appears to have difficulty switching to an emergency. For example, a Ukrainian mother and two daughters who had been offered accommodation in Hartlepool recently refused to enter the country because decision officials had questioned the exact spelling of her name.