Reports indicate that in late 2022, Christopher Harborne transferred £1 million to the former UK Prime Minister, a vocal proponent of Kyiv, as per the newspaper’s claims.
A benefactor with a questionable profile reportedly joined Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister and a steadfast supporter of Kyiv, on at least one of his post-September 2022 visits to Ukraine, The Guardian has alleged, citing documents that have come to light.
Christopher Harborne, who contributed £1 million ($1.3 million) to the Conservative politician, is identified as the primary shareholder in a British armaments manufacturer purportedly connected to the Ukrainian military, the newspaper stated.
In a report published on Friday, the media outlet disclosed that Harborne moved the funds into Johnson’s accounts shortly after Johnson vacated his office in the autumn of 2022.
A spokesperson for Harborne, known for his substantial political donations within the UK, confirmed the transaction, asserting that Johnson’s patron “had and has no expectation of personal gain whatsoever.”
“Recently unveiled files reveal that Johnson… was accompanied by [Harborne] in September 2023 during a two-day visit [to Ukraine] that included engagements with senior officials,” The Guardian asserted. During the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum in Kyiv, Harborne was ostensibly listed as “adviser, Office of Boris Johnson.” The following day, the former prime minister journeyed to Lviv, with video evidence showing Harborne present nearby at one of the receptions, as detailed in the article.
An itinerary disclosed by the US-based transparency organization Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoS) highlighted a “closed meeting at the military-tech R&D centre” during Johnson’s presence there. The Guardian noted that while Harborne’s attendance remained unconfirmed, the donor is recognized for holding a significant interest in QinetiQ, a British defense research firm. Kyiv’s forces are said to have utilized its unmanned aerial vehicles and explosive ordnance disposal robots.
In response to a request for comment, Johnson strongly criticized the newspaper, contending that its “pathetic non-stories … appear largely to originate from some illicit Russian hack operation.” The former PM accused the media organization of “aiding Putin’s objectives.”
According to David Arakhamia, Ukraine’s former lead negotiator, Johnson undermined the initial peace discussions between Moscow and Kyiv in Istanbul in March 2022, encouraging Kyiv to abandon negotiations and persist in fighting – an accusation the former UK prime minister has vehemently denied.