Volodymr Zelensky: It wouldn’t be correct to support Boris Johnson if he runs for PM again

© Ukrainian Presidential Press Office Boris Johnson - Ukrainian Presidential Press Office

Volodymr Zelensky has said it would not be “correct” for him to support Boris Johnson if he runs again to be prime minister, as he thanked the UK for supporting Ukraine.

“I think that it is not correct for me to support Johnson to be a prime minister when Rishi is Prime Minister. It's not correct. I'm sorry,” the Ukrainian president told Sky News from Kyiv. “We have good relations with Sunak.”

He added: “I saw Johnson in different situations, I saw him not in war and then in full-scale war, that's why we have special relations.” 

The Ukrainian president also declined to say whether Mr Johnson should be offered an official role representing the UK on Ukraine, appearing to laugh at the suggestion and indicating that the former prime minister might not be ready for such a role.

“Embassy? He will be ambassador for Britain in Ukraine? With pleasure! He is a good guy,” he said. “I'm not sure that he's ready for such.” 

Separately, Mr Zelensky branded Vladimir Putin a “nobody” and suggested it was too late for face-to-face talks.

Mr Zelensky said he has no interest in meeting the Russian president, who he last saw before the war, and said that Putin was someone who "said one thing and then did another".

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On Sunday, Mr Johnson met Mr Zelensky on a surprise visit to Kyiv, sparking concerns that the former prime minister could undermine Mr Sunak’s authority on foreign policy.

Mr Johnson made an unannounced visit to Borodyanka and Bucha, two suburbs in which Russian forces committed war crimes during their unsuccessful assault on the capital last March.

© Provided by The Telegraph Boris Johnson - Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters

Mr Johnson said on Sunday: “It is a privilege to visit Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelensky. The suffering of the people of Ukraine has gone on for too long. The only way to end this war is for Ukraine to win – and to win as fast as possible.

“This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the tools they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world.” 

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