Boris Johnson Suggests Putin Would Have Avoided Invading Ukraine if Trump Were President

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Boris Johnson, the former UK prime minister, recently expressed his belief that Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Donald Trump had been in office. In an exclusive interview with *The Telegraph* ahead of his memoir *Unleashed*, Johnson emphasized that the world benefits from having a strong U.S. leader, suggesting that Trump's unpredictability would have deterred Putin from attacking a sovereign nation.

 

Johnson argues that from the Kremlin’s perspective, Trump might have viewed an assault on a European country as a direct challenge to America and the global order. He believes Trump’s response could have been severe, saying, “From the Kremlin’s point of view, there was a real risk that Trump would have construed an attack on a European country as an affront to America and to the world order, and might have come down hard.” Johnson aligns with Trump’s own narrative, often repeated by the former president, that Russia's aggressive moves in Ukraine occurred on either side of his presidency, not during it.

 

One of Trump’s major strengths in foreign affairs, according to Johnson, is his unpredictability, which created uncertainty for adversaries. He credits Trump for taking decisive actions during his presidency, including expelling 60 Russian spies after the Salisbury poisonings, showing firmness in Syria, and supplying Ukraine with Javelin missiles. Johnson also highlighted that Trump was much tougher on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps compared to previous Democratic administrations.

 

When asked whether Ukraine should fear a potential return of Trump to the presidency, Johnson was confident in Trump’s support for Ukraine. He underscored that Ukraine’s fight is essential for defending freedom and democracy in Europe, stating, “It’s very, very important that we understand that Ukraine’s fight is absolutely existential for freedom and democracy in Europe, and if Ukraine goes down, it is an absolute catastrophe. And he [Trump] understands that.” Johnson added that he did not believe Trump would want to start his second term by prioritizing the resurgence of the Soviet Union over making America great again.

 

For Johnson, a strong America under decisive leadership is crucial for global stability. “All human institutions require a leader. In the world, America is the leader. And in my view, the world is a happier, more prosperous place when you have a strong America and a strong leader, and when people feel that some sort of order is being maintained,” he said.

 

In the same interview, Johnson also touched on other global issues, including the Middle East. Reflecting on Israel’s response to the October 7 terrorist attacks, he argued that Israel’s actions were necessary for protecting its people, highlighting that democracies have the right to defend themselves. Johnson expressed disappointment in British Labour leader Keir Starmer, criticizing his contradictory stance on Israel, especially after Starmer’s decision to impose an arms embargo on the country at a time when Israel faces sustained attacks from Hezbollah.

 

While Johnson’s views on global leadership may invite debate, his reflections on Trump’s presidency and his role in foreign policy suggest a strong belief in the importance of unpredictability and decisiveness in preventing conflict.

 

Based on a report from Daily Telegraph 2024-10-07