Addressing members of the British parliament, the prime minister said the lifting of G7 sanctions simply in exchange for a ceasefire by Russia was exactly what Russian President Vladimir Putin might want.
“I think we should tighten sanctions (..) until all his troops have been withdrawn from Ukraine,” Johnson said.
He also said the government was considering delivering more serious military aid to Ukraine.
Johnson revealed that armored personnel carriers could be sent to Ukraine to help the army break through the siege of Mariupol.
Following talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul this week, the media reported that Britain, France and the United States could agree to guarantee Ukraine’s security in exchange for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
However, Johnson rejected the possibility that Britain could provide Ukraine with the same security guarantees as NATO members. Another security concept could be applied to Ukraine.
Ukraine could be so armed with Western help that Putin would no longer be able to conquer it, Johnson said.
“We are on this path,” the prime minister told deputies.
Johnson also said he understood the anger of US President Joe Biden when he said last week that Putin could no longer stay in power. However, Johnson emphasized that the change of regime in Moscow was not the goal of the British government.
“We simply want to help protect the people of Ukraine and protect them from completely barbaric and unreasonable violence,” Johnson said.
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