Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with Conservative representatives in Texas on May 22 to discuss support for Ukraine. On this subject informed Policy.
According to the publication, Johnson flew to Dallas, Texas, at the invitation of “pro-Ukrainian think tanks”, for a private dinner with two dozen conservative figures in the state, including politicians, philanthropists and industry representatives. At the meeting, he reportedly asked them to continue supporting Ukraine.
“I just urge you all to stay on this path. In the long term, this will bring enormous benefits,” Politico Johnson quotes.
Also, the former Prime Minister would have assured his interlocutors that support for Ukraine should not be indefinite, since he “is hopeful that the Ukrainians will be able to launch a significant counter-attack this summer”. Johnson also believes Kyiv will be able to defeat Moscow in this conflict.
Republicans told Johnson of their concerns about corruption in Ukraine and also told the former British prime minister that they would like to focus more on China. Johnson, according to Politico, said Western solidarity with Ukraine sends a clear signal to Beijing.
“Beijing looks at this and understands that our support for Ukraine has significantly increased the strategic ambiguity and the risks associated with a possible adventure against Taiwan,” Johnson told Politico.
Johnson also said Joe Biden’s new $50 billion military aid package for Ukraine will soon be “excellent value for money.” According to him, the United States will receive “a huge increase in global security for relatively little money”.
In addition, according to Politico, Johnson also met in Dallas with former US President George W. Bush, and on May 23 the former prime minister was scheduled to visit state Governor Greg Abbotton.
In an atmosphere of growing skepticism
Johnson’s arrival in the United States is associated with growing skepticism in conservative circles about support for Ukraine. At the same time, political tensions related to the Ukrainian conflict, according to Politico forecasts, will only increase in the run-up to the 2024 elections in the United States.
Former US President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who have been skeptical of support policies for Ukraine, have been singled out as the top potential Republican presidential candidates. Trump promised to end the conflict in one day with some sort of deal, and DeSantis called the conflict in Ukraine local and not affecting “America’s vital national interests”.
Politico also notes that Johnson’s visit to US politicians about Ukraine was not the first. The former British prime minister previously visited the United States in January and urged the government to provide fighter jets to Kyiv. Now the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) in Washington has decided to expand the geography and send Boris Johnson to the heart of the Republican Party, which is Dallas.
“We wanted to get that message outside of Washington. where we all live in a bubble. We would like to take our ideas to the backcountry, to places like Texas, to gain more support for Ukraine,” said Alina Polyakova, executive director of CEPA.
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