Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has presented a peace plan to US presidential candidate Donald Trump for ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Johnson detailed his proposals in a column for the Daily Mail, offering a structured approach to resolving the war.
“Having talked to Donald Trump this week, I am more convinced than ever that he has the strength and the bravery to fix it, to save Ukraine, to bring peace — and to stop the disastrous contagion of conflict. … I believe that Trump can end it — on the right terms for Ukraine and the West. I stress that I cannot be sure exactly what he would do, if elected. But this is what he could do,” Johnson says.
Johnson suggests that Trump could end the war in two stages – first, by allowing Ukraine to use all necessary weapons, and second, once the Russians are weakened, by proposing a peace agreement.
“Putin would have to pull back at least to the pre-invasion boundaries of 2022, and to avoid future conflict and uncertainty the rest of Ukraine would have to be recognised as a free country, able to choose its destiny within the EU and Nato,” the text states.
Johnson proposes that after the war ends, part of the Ukrainian military could be stationed in European countries, replacing some of the 70,000 US troops currently deployed to deter potential Russian aggression. “That would enable Trump to save money, and to bring U.S. forces home, and get the Europeans to do more in their own defence: one of his key objectives,” writes the British politician.
There is only one way to achieve this outcome – through force, Johnson says. “Washington under Trump will have to show that international borders must be respected, and that the Soviet empire cannot be rebuilt by force. That means backing the Ukrainians to the hilt. If Trump had been in the White House, I don’t think Putin would have been so reckless and criminal as to invade Ukraine,” the former British Prime Minister writes.
A Ukrainian victory could pave the way for new and much better relations with Russia, Johnson concludes. “That would be a big win, for America and for the whole world,” the politician says.
Cover: Boris Johnson on Facebook
