By Anietie anii- bassey
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on the United Kingdom and its European allies to immediately deploy noncombat troops to Ukraine, arguing that such a move would demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Western nations remain firmly committed to safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence.
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson said Western governments should consider stationing troops in peaceful regions of the country in strictly non-fighting roles. His remarks were made in an interview with the BBC, excerpts of which were released before its scheduled broadcast.
Johnson, who was one of Kyiv’s most vocal international backers during the early months of the war while serving as Britain’s prime minister, framed the proposal as a necessary show of resolve.
He suggested that waiting for a ceasefire agreement before deploying troops hands Moscow undue leverage and risks reinforcing the perception that the West lacks confidence in its own commitments.
“If we are willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power, in Putin’s hands, why not do it now?” Johnson said. He argued there was no logical reason preventing Western nations from sending “peaceful ground forces” to underscore their constitutional and moral support for a free and independent Ukraine.
Under current discussions among allied governments — often described as a “coalition of the willing” — any troop deployment would take place only after a negotiated end to hostilities.
The envisioned multinational force would serve as a stabilizing presence, tasked with monitoring and enforcing a ceasefire rather than participating in combat operations. Johnson’s proposal, by contrast, would represent a significant departure from that cautious approach.
Western military planners have so far avoided publicly endorsing the idea of sending troops into Ukraine while fighting continues, wary that Moscow could interpret such a move as a direct escalation.
The Kremlin has previously rejected proposals for peacekeeping missions in Ukraine. In September, Putin warned that any Western troops deployed on Ukrainian territory would be treated as “legitimate targets,” signaling the potential for a dangerous expansion of the conflict.
Johnson dismissed the notion that Moscow should dictate the terms of international engagement in Ukraine. He framed the issue as a fundamental question about the country’s political future and its right to determine its own alliances and security arrangements.
“It’s about whether Ukraine is a free country or not,” he said. “If it’s a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it’s up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it’s not, then it’s up to the Ukrainians.”
Britain’s Ministry of Defence responded cautiously to Johnson’s remarks. In a statement, the ministry said the government continues to work with allied nations to prepare for the possible deployment of a multinational force after a ceasefire is achieved.
The statement reiterated that British troops could be placed on the ground following the end of hostilities as part of a broader effort to secure long-term peace, but it did not indicate any shift toward immediate action.
Johnson also used the interview to reflect on what he described as a pattern of Western missteps that he believes emboldened the Kremlin in the years leading up to the 2022 invasion. He argued that the failure to respond decisively to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 sent a signal of weakness.
He further contended that Western inaction in Syria, particularly after chemical weapons were used by the government of President Bashar al-Assad, undermined deterrence.
According to Johnson, the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan further reinforced a perception that Western powers were retreating from global leadership.
He suggested that images of hurried evacuations and the rapid collapse of the Afghan government may have influenced Putin’s calculations in the months before launching the full-scale assault on Ukraine in February 2022.
“I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons,” Johnson said. “I think he was further emboldened by what he’d seen in Afghanistan, and a general sense that the West was on the back foot.”
As Ukraine approaches another year of grinding conflict, Johnson’s comments are likely to reignite debate within allied capitals about the balance between deterrence and escalation. While many Western governments have steadily increased military aid and financial assistance to Kyiv, the prospect of placing their own troops on Ukrainian soil — even in noncombat roles — remains politically and strategically sensitive.
For now, official policy in London and other European capitals continues to hinge on a post-ceasefire deployment. Johnson’s intervention, however, underscores ongoing divisions about how best to demonstrate resolve against Moscow and whether a more assertive posture could alter the trajectory of a war that has reshaped European security.
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