Boris stuns as he makes surprise visit to Kyiv for unofficial Zelensky talks without Sunak
Boris Johnson has made a surprise and unannounced visit to Ukraine on Sunday. The former Prime minister said he had been invited by Ukraine’s President Zelensky. Mr Johnson visited both Bucha and Borodianka, where Russian troops committed atrocities during their short-lived occupation of the two towns, which lie to the north of Kyiv.
While in Bucha, Mr Johnson went inside a church and was accompanied by police.
Later he met for informal talks with President Zelensky and several ministers in government buildings in central Kyiv.
In a video posted by the President’s office, Mr Johnson can be heard telling his host about the “appalling” destruction he had seen.
He said: “It’s still going on every day. I will do whatever I can.”
The Tory MP urged fellow Western leaders to “double down” on their efforts to supply Kyiv with the weapons it needs to drive Putin and his army out of Ukraine.
In statement released during his visit, he said: “This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job.”
“The suffering of the people of Ukraine has gone on for too long.
“The only way to end this war is for Ukraine to win – and to win as fast as possible.
“The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world.”
Mr Johnson added: “It is a privilege to visit Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelensky.
Mr Johnson’s visit will undoubtably be seen by some as an attempt to upstage the present British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
However, No 10 said the Prime Minister was “supportive” of Mr Johnson’s decision to go to Ukraine.
Mr Sunak’s press secretary said he is “always supportive of all colleagues showing that the UK is behind Ukraine and will continue to support them”.
Mr Johnson has cultivated close ties with Ukraine’s leader and the pair appear to enjoy a warm relationship.
They met twice during Mr Johnson’s time as Prime Minister and spoke frequently on the telephone.
A Ukrainian official called Mr Johnson’s visit “neither official nor private”.
The former Prime Minister had been advised to steer clear of Ukraine and to stop meddling in British government affairs by a number of people.
