LONDON — Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the U.K. and its European allies should immediately deploy noncombat troops to Ukraine to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that Western nations are truly committed to the nation's freedom and independence.
Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC that the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-fighting roles. The comments from Johnson, who was one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters as Britain's leader during the first months of the conflict, were contained in excerpts of an interview that will be broadcast on Sunday.
If adopted, the proposal from Johnson would mark a major policy shift for the U.K. and its allies. While the ''coalition of the willing'' is working on plans to send troops to Ukraine, such a deployment would only take place after an agreement to end the fighting and would be designed to police the ceasefire.
''If we are willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power, in Putin's hands, why not do it now?'' Johnson said. ''There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn't send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine.''
Western military planners have avoided discussing such a move publicly out of concern that Russia would see it as an escalation of the conflict.
Putin in September rejected Western proposals for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying that any troops deployed to the country would be ''legitimate targets.''
But Johnson said Putin shouldn't be able to dictate terms to Ukraine and its allies.
''It's about whether Ukraine is a free country or not,'' he said. ''If it's a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it's up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it's not, then it's up to the Ukrainians.''
