Britain would “never recognise,” according to Boris Johnson, the Russian annexation of Crimea or “any other Ukrainian land.”
At a conference, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin’s genocidal attack.
The conference, which is being hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, comes only six months after the newest phase of Russia’s offensive against its neighbour, which started on February 24 of this year.
Mr. Johnson spoke at the meeting via video connection along with other foreign leaders like Justin Trudeau of Canada, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Emmanuel Macron of France, Mario Draghi of Italy, and Fumio Kishida of Japan.
The first conference conducted in 2017 to coordinate international actions over Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that Russia took in 2014, preceded today’s gathering.
The PM criticised Mr. Putin’s “land grab” of Crimea in his speech, calling it a “direct antecedent” to the current crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
At a global conference, Boris Johnson reaffirmed the UK’s support for Ukraine in the face of Vladimir Putin’s brutal invasion.
The Prime Minister said that Britain would “never recognise” Russia’s invasion of Crimea while on his way to deliver a video address to the conference.
Mr. Johnson spoke at the conference with other international leaders including Justin Trudeau of Canada, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Emmanuel Macron of France, Mario Draghi of Italy, and Fumio Kishida of Japan.
The conference, which is being hosted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, takes place six months before the end of Russia’s most recent offensive against its neighbour.
In 2014, Mr. Johnson pleaded with leaders across the globe to “have the humility to admit that not everyone comprehended the overwhelming significance of what was occurring at the time.”
He continued by saying that this was the “opening act” of the present “tragedy” occurring in eastern Europe.
The Prime Minister said that “the people of Crimea have suffered from a cruel and organised campaign of human rights violations by the Russian authorities ever since the takeover.”
“I’m concerned that all of this is much more relevant now because Putin plans to do to some—actually, all—of Ukraine what he did to Crimea.
He is planning further annexations and phoney referendums.
Therefore, it is more crucial than ever for all of us to unite in support of the guiding concept of international law.
No nation or territory may expand its territory or alter its boundaries via force.
We will never recognise Russia’s takeover of Crimea or any other Ukrainian land, it follows.
“In the face of Putin’s onslaught, we must continue to provide our Ukrainian partners with all the military, humanitarian, economic, and diplomatic help they need until Russia puts an end to this dreadful conflict and withdraws its soldiers from all of Ukraine,” the statement reads.
As of right now, Mr. Johnson has fewer than two weeks remaining in office. On September 6th, the PM will pass over power to his replacement, either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak.
In his last days in office, Mr. Johnson, according to Downing Street, would reiterate British support for Ukraine.
This week, a lot of attention is being paid to underlining our support for Ukraine, and that support remains unshakable in the face of an unlawful conflict, according to a spokesperson for Number 10.
It has been said that Ms. Truss, who is generally anticipated to win the race for the Tory leadership to succeed Mr. Johnson, is thinking about making a trip to Ukraine one of her first official actions as president as a way to publicly support Kyiv.