Boris Johnson has urged the West not to cave in to Russia’s threat of nuclear war, but instead to increase its supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine.
The former UK prime minister appeared at a panel breakfast at the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss Ukraine – with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky joining via video link.
Johnson said Russian leader Vladimir Putin wanted to portray it as a nuclear standoff between NATO and Russia, but the West should take his bluff. “Nonsense,” he said. “He will not use nuclear weapons.
“People are saying we shouldn’t escalate and we should be careful about doing things that further provoke Putin,” he said. “How can we escalate against a man who is waging all-out war against a civilian population?”
Boris Johnson appears at a Breakfast for Ukraine meeting during the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo: John Collingridge/The Guardian
The appearance of Johnson, who stepped down as prime minister in July after the Partygate scandal, at the summit of the world’s elite in the Swiss Alps will raise further questions about his political ambitions amid speculation that the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP is the brainchild of return. Rishi Sunak decided not to attend the annual meeting amid persistently high inflation and the UK’s cost of living crisis, with Business Secretary Grant Shapps and International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch the most senior UK government attendees.
Johnson, who declined to answer questions about Sunak’s absence from Davos, urged world leaders to stop worrying about “Kremlinology” and Putin’s motivations and inner circle.
“It’s hard enough to understand what’s going to happen in UK politics, let alone the Kremlin.”
He said Putin would not use nuclear weapons because the consequences would be too great.
“He would never do it because he would put [Russia] in complete cryogenic paralysis, he will lose all the land, all the states that give him [benefit of the] I doubt that the Indians, the Chinese would immediately turn against him en masse.
Johnson echoed the calls of Zelensky, who used several video addresses to a gathering of senior politicians and business leaders to call for more heavy weaponry, including Leopard 2 tanks from Germany.
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“What we need to focus on is supporting Ukraine and giving Volodymyr Zelensky the tools he needs to get the job done,” Johnson said. “Give them the tanks. There is absolutely nothing to lose.”
The panel was attended by Davos regulars including BlackRock’s Larry Fink, US climate envoy John Kerry and Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon.
Fink, who runs the world’s largest money manager, said rebuilding Ukraine would cost more than $750 billion.
Johnson, who has visited Ukraine four times since Russia invaded last February, was personally thanked by the Ukrainian leader during the video address.
Johnson once described Davos as “a great big constellation of egos engaged in massive mutual orgies of praise” and also banned his cabinet from attending shortly after becoming prime minister in 2019.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will speak in Davos on Thursday, with Starmer due to tell attendees that Britain will be “open for business” under a Labor government.
The two are seeking to highlight their pro-business credentials and contrast with the previous Labor regime, as well as capitalize on the chaos in Tory ranks following the short-lived but disastrous premiership of Liz Truss.
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