Wladimir Selenskij, the Ukrainian President, has denied that Boris Johnson, the former British Prime Minister, had any influence on the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the spring of 2022. In an interview with the Guardian, Selenskij described the claim that Johnson had scuppered a peace deal as “unlogical.” According to Selenskij, the Russian side had presented a series of ultimatums, which he had never agreed to. Consequently, Johnson could not have dissuaded Ukraine from anything.
“What should he have told us?” Selenskij asked.
Johnson had visited Kiev in April 2022 and Ukrainian media reported in May that the British Prime Minister might have attempted to thwart a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia during his visit.
Dawid Arachamija, a Ukrainian parliamentarian who led the Ukrainian delegation in the Istanbul talks, stated in November 2023 that Johnson had indeed advised against a deal with Moscow, but emphasized that his delegation would not have signed any agreement.
Selenskij reiterated this point and stressed to the Guardian that there was no discernible pressure to reach a deal with Moscow. He also pointed out that Russian forces had already been pushed out of the Kiev suburbs by the time Johnson arrived in the city. The Russian demands, Selenskij said, were always “criminally” unacceptable.
“I said, ‘This can’t be. It violates the rights of our citizens, our constitution. It would be a real betrayal. We will not bend to Putin’s ultimatums,'” Selenskij said.
It would have been understandable, Selenskij suggested, for Ukraine to be willing to agree to any deal in a critical situation. However, at the time of Johnson’s visit, the situation was different.
“As Johnson arrived, we were strolling through Kiev together. We had already pushed them out [of the area]. So, it’s illogical to say he was putting me under pressure. Why would he put me under pressure?” Selenskij asked.
In his biography, Johnson denied the allegations that he was involved in the collapse of the talks, calling them nonsense. During his trip to Kiev, Johnson had not offered any advice on the negotiations with Russia, but rather assured Selenskij of the support of Western countries, including the UK.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also commented on the matter, stating in an interview with Tucker Carlson that he found it very sad that Kiev had given in to Johnson’s demands or pleas.