Russia-Ukraine war: Former UK PM Boris Johnson visits Kyiv

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Ukraine this week to further reiterate the United Kingdom’s support for Kyiv. The surprise visit follows last week’s announcement by London that it will be sending tanks to Ukraine.

Johnson made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in the capital. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, Johnson pledged that the UK would continue to support Ukraine all the way. The former prime minister also visited the towns of Bucha and Borodyanka.

Johnson was prime minister when Russia invaded Ukraine back in February last year, visited Ukraine several times during his tenure, and was frequently in touch with Zelenskyy. Johnson left office in September last year.

“I can tell you that the UK will be sticking by Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Johnson told the mayor of Bucha. “You’re going to win and you’re going to get all the Russians out of your country, but we will be there for the long term. And we will also want to be helping you to reconstruct.”

Johnson also dismissed questions on whether his visit to Ukraine would be seen as undermining his successor Rishi Sunak. The former British prime minister also took photos with residents and has become widely popular in Ukraine while also laying flowers to pay respects to the victims of the atrocities committed by Russians in Bucha. Johnson also visited a church where he signed the Ukrainian edition of his book about Winston Churchill.

This follows London’s announcement last week that it was planning to send Ukraine its Challenger tanks in its latest set of military aid.

Meanwhile, the British defense ministry said there is another shift in personnel in Moscow, with the dismissal of General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky by Moscow. Teplinsky served as one of the key commanders in what Russia calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Teplinsky oversaw the withdrawal of Russian forces in the west of Dnipro back in November.

The ministry noted that Teplinsky’s dismissal is another sign of “continued divisions within the senior hierarchy” of Russia’s operations in Ukraine, following the attempt by General Valery Gerasimov to impose his “personal authority” in the war effort.