BRITAIN should put troops on the ground in Ukraine now, Boris Johnson has said.
The ex-PM claimed making the move before any potential ceasefire could “flip a switch” in Vladimir Putin’s head and finally force his hand.
Mr Johnson, who was in No.10 when Russia invaded Ukraine almost four years ago, wants soldiers deployed in areas away from the frontlines and in non-fighting roles.
He told the BBC: “We’ve always delayed needlessly. We’ve then ended up giving the Ukrainians what they have been asking for, and actually it’s always served to their advantage and to the disadvantage of Putin.
“I mean, the one person who suffers from escalation is Putin.”
He added: “If we can have boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?
“Just to make this point that it is up to the Ukrainians, and these people wouldn’t be there in a war-fighting capacity, right?
“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?
“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.”
Mr Johnson, 61, was one of the first world leaders to throw his support behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and has returned to Ukraine several times since leaving office.
PM Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that as many as 10,000 Brit troops, alongside European allies, could have a role in Ukraine as peacekeeping forces in the event of a ceasefire.
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “We are proud of UK leadership on Ukraine – supporting the fight today and working to secure the peace tomorrow.
“It’s why this government is providing the highest ever level of military support, including a recent half-billion-pound air defence package just last week, accelerating £200m for the UK military to prepare for any Ukraine deployment, and working with over 30 nations through the UK-led Coalition of the Willing.”
Representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the US met in Geneva, Switzerland, for talks on finally ending the war last week.
They made no concrete agreement, with Mr Zelensky accusing Russian delegates of wasting their time by using delaying tactics.
