Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the BBC that the UK and its allies must deploy rear-line, non-combat troops in Ukraine now to make Russian President Vladimir Putin "think".
Speaking exclusively to the BBC alongside former army chief Admiral Tony Radakin, Boris Johnson said the troops should be sent to peaceful regions in non-combat roles. The former prime minister asked the question "why not do this now, given that there are plans to deploy troops on the ground after the war, once Putin has agreed to a ceasefire?"
The British government is currently working with its allies in the Coalition of the Willing on plans to provide forces to maintain peace and stability in Ukraine, but only if there is an agreement to end the war.
Speaking just days before the fourth anniversary of the war, Johnson, who was prime minister at the time of the invasion, also said the conflict could have been prevented if Western allies had paid more attention to Putin's growing aggression and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Both Johnson and Admiral Radakin agreed that despite widespread support from the UK, Western allies had been too slow and cautious in providing much-needed assistance to Ukraine.