Ukraine’s President Zelenskiy and PM Boris Johnson
(Picture: REUTERS)President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is “very happy” that Boris Johnson won the confidence vote as he is a “true friend of Ukraine”.
Speaking to the Financial Times on Tuesday, Mr Zelensky claimed that the prime minister was “an important ally” of his country and had shown support following the Russian invasion.
The pair famously met in Kyiv last month and they are known to speak regularly.
Just hours before his confidence vote on Monday night, Mr Johnson spoke to Mr Zelensky to reiterate the UK’s commitment to arming Ukraine in its resistance against Russian aggression.
Asked for his reaction to the news Mr Johnson had won the confidence vote, he told the FT’s Roula Khalaf: “I am very happy [he won the confidence vote]. He is a true friend of Ukraine... I am glad we have not lost a very important ally.”
Elsewhere during the interview, he said a stalemate was “not an option” that Ukraine would accept.
“I believe that this is a war for independence and the freedom of our country… The opinion of me and most of our people is we must restore all of our territories.” He said.
“As of now I can say that returning to the borders that we controlled before February 24 this year is a serious, temporary victory… It is temporary because we must also de-occupy all our former territories.”
Victory must be achieved on the battlefield, the Ukraine leader said.
Mr Zelensky said there “cannot be talks behind Ukraine’s back” and countries should not expect that Ukraine will “weaken our expectations”.
It follows suggestions by French President Emmanuel Macron that Kyiv may need to accept a peace deal to avoid “humiliating” Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson on Tuesday sought to reset his premiership after 40 per cent of his own MPs expressed no confidence in his leadership.
He told Cabinet the vote would allow the Government to pursue his “massive agenda” for the country, including cutting taxes and his “levelling up” programme.
