Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Britain might need to send troops to Ukraine if U.S. military support declines under President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking to GB News on November 12, Johnson stressed that reduced U.S. aid, critical to Ukraine’s defense against Russia, would shift the burden to European allies.
U.S. military assistance, valued at approximately $6 billion under President Joe Biden’s administration, has been crucial in bolstering Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression. Johnson credited previous U.S. contributions, including the provision of Javelin missiles, as instrumental in the defense of Kyiv during early phases of the conflict.
President-elect Trump earlier signaled a stark departure from current U.S. policy, advocating for a ceasefire and the establishment of an 800-mile demilitarized zone. While the plan includes freezing hostilities at current frontlines, it notably excludes U.S. troop deployments or financial commitments for enforcement. Trump has also criticized NATO’s role in coordinating aid to Ukraine, raising concerns about a diminished Western response to the conflict.
Johnson emphasized that failing to support Ukraine would have far-reaching consequences for European security, warning that “our collective security will be really degraded by a resurgent Russia.” He argued that if the U.S. withdraws its military aid, European nations, including the U.K., would need to step up to prevent a destabilized Ukraine from threatening regional stability.
Johnson said that while military aid and potential troop deployments might appear costly, they are a necessary measure to deter Russian expansionism. Without such intervention, Johnson posited, the eventual costs to Europe—including higher defense spending and regional insecurity—would far exceed the current investments.
The possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine has resurfaced in discussions among European allies, particularly following meetings between U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. According to Le Monde, these talks included proposals for an enhanced U.K.-France defense cooperation, with a focus on Ukraine.
French-led efforts to establish a European “hard core” of defense-focused allies, aimed at bolstering Ukraine and broader European security, have reportedly gained traction. However, Germany and other European nations remain opposed to direct military involvement, preferring to continue financial and material aid without deploying troops.
The Kremlin has dismissed reports of British and French discussions regarding troop deployments to Ukraine, describing them as speculative.
