Boris Johnson has said China will be making an “historic mistake” if it supplies Russia with weapons – as he urged the UK to “break the ice” by becoming the first country to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.
Speaking to Sky News’ Mark Austin as the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion approaches, the former prime minister said he was “very concerned” to see China’s top diplomat meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow yesterday.
Asked about the possibility of Beijing supporting Russia’s war effort with weapons, he said: “I think it would be an historic mistake by the Chinese… Why does China want to be contaminated by association with Putin, who has revealed himself to be this gangster and adventurer? I think it would be a big, big mistake by China.
Putin marks military holiday after missile warning; NATO ‘cannot allow Moscow to win’ – War latest
“But what it shows is the the urgency of us giving the Ukrainians what they need to succeed this year and to make sure that 2023 is their victory.”
Mr Johnson, who was prime minister when Russian invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, was asked whether the UK should be on a “war footing” so it can manufacture ammunition to supply Kyiv with what it needs.
He said: “What I’m saying is that we should continue to supply the munitions that we can. We need to make more munitions.”
Ukraine war: Boris Johnson and Liz Truss call on Rishi Sunak to send fighter jets to Ukraine immediately
Senior Tory MP Damian Green rejected as candidate in next general election
Penny Mordaunt says Boris Johnson’s Brexit intervention ‘helpful’ and ‘lots to be done’ before deal is reached
“But what I’m saying is let’s not delay if we’re going to give them the kit they need sooner or later. If that’s the choice, sooner or later, let’s give it sooner,” the former prime minister added.
Mr Johnson has been speaking as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urges Western powers to supply his country with fighter jets to support their war effort.
However, there are fears among Western powers Ukraine would use the jets to strike targets inside Russia.
Mr Johnson appeared confident Ukraine would only use them to defend their country and encouraged the government to supply some of the UK military’s Typhoon jets.
“What the Ukrainians want is F-16s. As it happens, we don’t have F-16s but we do have Typhoons. I think there’s an argument for the UK breaking the ice and giving them some Typhoons. If it’s a question of of training people up to use those machines – we can do that.”
