Sunak and Zelensky’s bromance shows Boris Johnson’s ‘special relationship’ was not that special
Boris Johnson liked to think that he had a special relationship with Volodymyr Zelensky, his fellow showman turned statesman.
But while the two undeniably got on well during Mr Johnson’s time in office, Rishi Sunak has struck up a bromance of his own with the Ukrainian leader.
That is partly due to Mr Zelensky’s own political brilliance, his ability to convince those whose support he needs the most that he has a unique bond with them. But it is also due to the iron commitment within all wings of British politics to continue backing Ukraine with warm words, weaponry and cold, hard cash.
Mr Sunak and Mr Zelensky bonded at Chequers on Monday, taking a stroll through the gardens of the Prime Minister’s country house and even trading jokes about each others’ looks.
The UK will push other G7 countries to match its level of support for Kyiv at a summit later this week; in an era when Britain’s global relevance is very much up for debate, Mr Sunak is pleased to have found an area where he can be a true leader on the world stage.
The weapons continue to flow, as the West urges Ukraine on ahead of the upcoming spring counteroffensive which is designed to push Russia well back from its current front line. Some will question why the UK – like other allies – has taken this step-by-step approach, gradually ratcheting up the support on offer, rather than handing it all over upfront a year or more ago.
Others will worry about what comes next. Spokesmen for the Russian regime have already been ranting poison in response to the latest UK announcements, and threatening retaliation.
They are not serious: the Kremlin has enough on its hands without trying to go to war with the West. But behind the Chequers bonhomie, there remains a dangerous and volatile conflict which must continue to make leaders very wary.
