British Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned on Thursday, but he pledged that the United Kingdom would still support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion.
Johnson, who held the role for less than three years, ushered in Great Britain’s “Brexit” split with the European Union. However, he was facing pressure from fellow Conservative Party members over his handling of a series of controversies.
What controversies? The controversies that led to his downfall include the parties he held during the COVID-19 pandemic while restrictions were in place, and a renovated flat that was paid for by a Conservative Party donor.
But the final straw for some was the way he handled sexual misconduct allegations against Chris Pincher, whom Johnson appointed deputy chief whip.
Johnson’s support for Ukraine: Wildly popular in Ukraine, Johnson gained the admiration of the country and its leaders for strongly pushing weapons transfers to the former Soviet nation and applying severe sanctions on Moscow shortly after Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24.
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Johnson also became the first leader of a G-7 country to visit Kyiv in April, returning for a second time in June.
- In addition, he had repeatedly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin in the lead-up to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The effect on Kyiv: In his resignation speech, Johnson said the U.K. will continue to back Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”
In a Fox News interview on Wednesday, National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that Johnson’s resignation wouldn’t affect the flow of aid to Ukraine.
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Kirby, who made the comments ahead of Thursday’s announcement, also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “understands that he has that international support, regardless of what government is in power in any one of those countries.”
Reactions from Ukraine and Russia: Zelensky expressed sadness for Johnson’s resignation and thanked him for his support during the invasion.
“We all heard this news with sadness. Not only me, but also the entire Ukrainian society, which is very sympathetic to you. My entire Office and all Ukrainians are grateful to you for your help,” Zelensky said in the statement. “We have no doubt that Great Britain’s support will be preserved, but your personal leadership and charisma made it special.”
Russian officials, meanwhile, celebrated Johnson’s ousting, with foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova characterizing his fall as a sign of Western decline.
“The moral of the story — do not seek to destroy Russia,” Zakharova wrote on Telegram. “Russia cannot be destroyed. You can break your teeth on it, and then choke on them.”
Read more about his resignation here.
