Only Forced Restraint: Johnson Says Putin Will Never Stop on His Own

Boris Johnson's View on the War in Ukraine

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the School of War podcast, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson argued that there is no point at which Vladimir Putin would voluntarily end the fighting. According to Johnson, Russian troops pulled back from Kyiv and moved east not because they chose to, but because Ukrainian forces fought heroically and forced the retreat. He said Putin has never once found a reason to stop, and Russia is still applying pressure. His remarks add to a wider debate about how the West should handle Moscow.

Kremlin's Stance and International Reactions

At the St. Petersburg forum in June, Putin dismissed Volodymyr Zelensky's proposals for a ceasefire and a meeting of leaders, calling the Ukrainian president's open letter "a piece of paper with elements of rudeness." Putin also acknowledged that Kyiv had offered to halt long-range strikes and limit combat operations, but he rejected both ideas. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has confirmed that the Kremlin remains committed to its original war objectives.

Military analyst Michael Kofman has similarly observed that Moscow will refuse a truce until it seizes the entire Donbas, even though, in his view, the Russian army cannot take that territory by force. Johnson believes the only way to give Putin a reason to stop is to create one from the outside through pressure, not by appealing to him. These statements highlight how complicated the conflict remains and the ongoing challenges for the international community.

"The comments by Boris Johnson and Michael Kofman reflect a deep understanding of the current geopolitical situation and the Kremlin's strategy."

- Source: School of War

With Russia rejecting every proposal for peace talks, the international community will have to develop effective ways of pressuring Moscow to change its aggressive course. That effort may be essential for restoring stability in the region and bringing peace back to Ukraine.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is marked by a series of rejections from the Kremlin regarding peace negotiations, as highlighted in the latest developments surrounding Russia's stance. As Boris Johnson emphasizes the necessity of external pressure to compel Putin to reconsider, the situation remains precarious, with potential for further escalation in the region.