On Saturday, U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson traveled to Ukraine where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a joint press conference, Johnson spoke of “clarity about a vision for the future of Ukraine,” which included closer ties with the United Kingdom, as well as advancements in technology and intelligence “so that Ukraine will never be invaded again . . . never be bullied again, never be blackmailed again, never be threatened in the same way again.”
In addition to this show of solidarity, Johnson promised to provide 120 armored vehicles, anti-ship missile systems, and around $130 million in other military equipment. Britain has also guaranteed an additional $500 million in World Bank loans, bringing the total to $1 billion.
Johnson’s wartime posture is proving a useful distraction from Partygate and the prime minister’s other Covid failures. Still, his leadership in the face of the crisis has been impressive in its own right. Johnson is playing to the same strengths he displayed during the struggle to “get Brexit done” — charisma, oratory, and decisiveness. As I wrote earlier, this could help save his premiership. (Or, failing that, his legacy.)