Donald Trump would be ‘strong and decisive’ in support for Ukraine, says Boris Johnson

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has claimed that Donald Trump “will be strong and decisive” in his support of Ukraine and in “defending democracy”.

The Conservative ex-premier was in Washington this week to attend the Republican National Conference in Milwaukee, where Mr Trump was named the party’s official candidate in the upcoming US presidential elections.

After a photograph circulated showing him giving a speech to a near-empty room at the conference on Tuesday, Mr Johnson later shared an image of himself meeting with Mr Trump, just days after the ex-president survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

“Great to meet President Trump who is on top form after the shameful attempt on his life,” wrote the former PM. “We discussed Ukraine and I have no doubt that he will be strong and decisive in supporting that country and defending democracy.”

Mr Johnson’s government was viewed in Ukraine as having been a staunch ally in its existential fight against Russia, after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion in February 2022.

Mr Johnson was ousted by his own party five months later over a series of domestic political scandals.

But his buoyant remarks run in stark contrast to alarm that has been raised over the potential impact of a second Trump presidency on vital military aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia, which intensified on Monday as he announced isolationist senator JD Vance as his pick for vice-president.

One senior EU official told Politico on Monday that the appointment of Mr Vance was a “disaster” for Ukraine, as a former senior British defence official told Sky News they feared a Trump-Vance White House would lead to the “immediate termination of all financial and military aid for