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Ukrainians sign petition to give citizenship, PM role to UK's Boris Johnson
An informal petition to grant outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Ukrainian citizenship and make him the country's prime minister has garnered more than 2,500 signatures hours after it was put up on the official Ukrainian petitions website on Tuesday (July 26), the US news reported, citing Reuters.
Despite losing his domestic popularity and eventually being forced to announce his resignation after dozens of ministers' departures in early July, Johnson remains a cult figure in Kyiv for his outspoken support of Ukraine in fighting the Russian invasion.
The paintings, murals and even cakes in the Ukrainian capital resemble the man some Ukrainians affectionately call "Johnsoniuk."
The petition, addressed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, lists Johnson's strengths as "worldwide support for Boris Johnson, a clear position against the military invasion of Ukraine, (and) wisdom in the political, financial and legal spheres."
PM visit to Ukrainian troopsThis week I visited Ukrainian troops being trained by British Armed Forces in North Yorkshire. The UK is committed to doing all we can to help Ukraine continue to repel Russian aggression.
Posted by Boris Johnson on Saturday, July 23, 2022
The petition, however, does acknowledge one negative side of such an appointment: its non-compliance with Ukraine's constitution.
In an apparent coincidence, several hours after the petition was put up on Tuesday, Johnson presented Zelenskiy with the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award for what his Downing Street office described as "incredible courage, defiance, and dignity" in the face of Russia's invasion.
Churchill award given to Volodymyr Zelensky by Boris Johnson
Zelenskiy did not mention the new petition when accepting the award, but he will be obliged to officially respond if it receives 25,000 signatures.
Accepting the award via video link from Kyiv, Zelenskiy quoted wartime British premier Churchill, saying that Johnson "had no thought of quitting the struggle" when the going got tough.
Source: usnews
