Boris Johnson has expressed concern that British support for Ukraine is diminishing.
The former Prime Minister stated he is “quite sad” about what he sees as a decline in UK interest in aiding Ukraine.
Speaking to The Telegraph at the Ukrainian embassy in London, Johnson voiced his concerns about the decreasing support for Ukraine within the UK.
“The interest in Ukraine and the appetite is so low nowadays. I find it quite sad,” Johnson stated.
When questioned about the current government’s handling of the Ukraine conflict, Johnson acknowledged the many pressing domestic issues causing a distraction.
Recent polls indicate a decrease in British public support for aid to Ukraine.
A YouGov poll from February 2023 indicated that almost 75% of respondents felt the UK wasn’t providing enough support to Kiev, while only 3% believed it was giving too much.
However, an Ipsos survey from February of this year showed that just over half of Britons supported the current level of aid, while almost 20% felt too much support was being provided.
The UK has pledged a total of £18.3 billion ($24.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine, including £13 billion ($17.4 billion) in military assistance.
London has been advocating for the deployment of “peacekeeping” troops to Ukraine as part of a “coalition of the willing” in the event of a ceasefire.
Last week, the government announced the coalition would establish permanent headquarters in Paris to coordinate with Kiev on “regenerating land forces” and “securing” its skies with fighter jets, should hostilities cease.
Moscow has asserted that it views the initiative as preparation for military intervention and has warned that it will consider any NATO troops in Ukraine – regardless of their designation as peacekeepers – as hostile.
Johnson resigned as UK prime minister in 2022, shortly after the conflict’s escalation. According to David Arakhamia, the Ukrainian head negotiator at the time, Johnson played a role in derailing the initial peace talks between Moscow and Kiev in Istanbul that year by persuading Ukraine to withdraw from the negotiations.
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