Boris Johnson: UK is not aiming to remove Russia's Putin

Boris Johnson: UK is not aiming to remove Russia's Putin
March 31, 2022, 10:24 am

Boris Johnson: I want to thank every member of our Armed Forces currently serving in Europe, standing side by side with their NATO counterparts at its eastern flank/Official Facebook page

The Channel News Asia reported, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday (Mar 30) that Britain is not aiming for regime change in Russia or to remove President Vladimir Putin. He said that the goal was to help to protect Ukrainians in the war.

US President Joe Biden has said that Putin "cannot remain in power", later saying his words reflected his moral outrage at Russia's invasion of Ukraine and not a US policy shift.

Asked about Biden's comment, Johnson said he understood "the frustrations that people feel about Putin".

Johnson told lawmakers at a committee hearing: "To desire a change of government in itself is not an ignoble thing ... that's the objective of a lot of democratic politics."

"But let's be absolutely clear, it's not the objective of the UK government, and it's very, very important that everybody gets this. We are simply setting out to help to protect the people of Ukraine, and to protect them against absolutely barbaric and unreasonable violence."

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (File photo: Euromaidan Press)

Some G7 leaders have maintained direct dialogue with Putin. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Sholz have held calls with Russia's president since the war started.

Asked whether Macron had been speaking to Putin for too long, Johnson said that the unity of the G7 and NATO should be prioritised. He said the question of "the value of those of those negotiations (with Putin) is an open one."

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Johnson said: "My view is that, that Putin is plainly not to be to be trusted."

Johnson said pressure should be maintained on Putin through sanctions even if a ceasefire was agreed.

Johnson said: "I certainly don't think that you could expect the G7 to lift sanctions simply because there's been a ceasefire in Ukraine. That again goes straight into Putin's playbook."

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"In my view, we should continue to intensify sanctions with a rolling programme until every single one of his troops is out of Ukraine."

Source: cna

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