“This is a statement that Donald Trump can make to his right-wing supporters, particularly the Republican skeptics about Ukraine, which he has successfully achieved. I believe this offers a legitimate opportunity for advancement.”
Johnson noted that the latest version of the proposal now pledges the United States to support a free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.
In a brief statement to POLITICO, Johnson reiterated what Zelenskyy had asserted earlier on Sunday — that the $500 billion compensation request from the U.S. is no longer part of the recent draft of the agreement. “The Ukrainians have negotiated effectively,” Johnson stated during the conference.
This comes after a senior official from Ukraine mentioned on Monday that the outlines of a deal are starting to emerge.
“Ukrainian and U.S. teams are approaching the final stages of negotiations regarding the minerals agreement,” stated Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Olga Stefanishyna in a post on X. “The discussions have been very productive, with nearly all key aspects settled. We aim to finalize this quickly to move forward with the signing.”
Meanwhile, back in London, the British government is facing inquiries regarding the role Johnson — who is no longer an elected official — is playing in promoting the agreement.
The spokesperson for current Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters simply that they had “no details of his engagements” and emphasized that the U.K. is “concentrated on all possible efforts” to support Ukraine.
Since stepping down from office, Johnson has been advocating to Trump — and other U.S. Republicans — to continue U.S. backing for Ukraine. Recently, he has criticized the “headless chicken-ism” among European capitals in response to Trump’s attempts to conclude the war and has played down the U.S. president’s more extreme remarks on the conflict as efforts to “shock” Europe into action.
