Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Western allies to deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine immediately, rather than waiting for a peace agreement, in order to psychologically influence Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As reported by Hvylya, citing BBC News, Johnson made these remarks in a joint interview with former Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. Johnson stated that a foreign contingent should be dispatched to stable, peaceful regions of Ukraine.
"If we have a plan for a troop presence on the ground after the war, after Putin condescends to a ceasefire, then why not do it now?" the former Prime Minister emphasized.
Johnson and Radakin agreed that the West has acted too slowly and cautiously. Radakin described this approach as "incrementalism," which has caused deep frustration in Kyiv. Delays in supplying the weapons requested by President Zelensky have cost Ukrainian lives.
According to Johnson, constant procrastination has played into Russia's hands. When asked whether European forces should enter secure parts of Ukraine, he replied affirmatively: "I see no logical reason why we should not send peaceful land forces there to demonstrate our support for a free, independent Ukraine."
UK Defence Secretary John Healey previously stated a readiness to send British soldiers to Ukraine only after a peace agreement is concluded, primarily to monitor its compliance. In response to Johnson's comments, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson stressed that the government is currently providing record levels of military support and is working with over 30 countries within the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" to prepare for any future deployments.
Assessing the prerequisites for the invasion, Johnson called the lack of a tough Western response to the 2014 annexation of Crimea a tragic mistake. He also added that Putin was emboldened by Bashar al-Assad's impunity for using chemical weapons in Syria and the chaotic withdrawal of American and British forces from Afghanistan in 2022.
In January 2026, the UK and France signed a Declaration of Intent with Ukraine regarding the deployment of military forces on the ground in the event of a peace deal. This initiative formed the basis of the multinational "Coalition of the Willing," which unites over 30 countries and envisages the creation of operational military hubs across Ukraine to maintain security, train personnel, and integrate management systems.
Under the agreements, a multinational headquarters is being established in Paris to coordinate the coalition's actions, which will later be moved to London. A coordination group led by a British general will operate directly in Kyiv. Western analysts estimate that the deployment of such a contingent should deter Russia from violating a future ceasefire, although the exact number of troops and rules of engagement remain the subject of closed negotiations.