But the PM said Putin had ‘fatally underestimated’ Ukraine’s resolve
The war in Ukraine is “worse than our predictions”, Boris Johnson admitted Tuesday, as he paid tribute to the “astonishing” resistance put up by the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s relentless attack.
Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw, the prime minister accused “barbaric” Vladimir Putin of killing innocent children and civilians, as he pledged further support for Ukrainian citizens.
“I’m afraid to say that the tragedy we predicted has come to pass and, if anything, it is worse than our predictions,” Johnson said, after arriving in Poland for crisis talks.
“We’re seeing an unfolding disaster in our European continent, and once again our Polish friends are on the frontline, as so often in history.”
Standing beside Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Johnson praised Poland for being on the front line of humanitarian efforts, saying: “This is a key moment for the Ukrainian resistance and we must be ready to increase and intensify sanctions.”
While admitting the war had been tougher than expected, Johnson said the Russian president had “fatally underestimated” the resolve of Ukraine and the west and insisted he would ultimately “fail”.
He praised the Ukrainians for mounting “an astonishing tenacious resistance”, and said Putin had underestimated the unity and resolve of the rest of the world.
“I think in this grim war, which is now in its sixth day, [Putin] has fatally under-estimated two things,” he said.
“The first is the passionate desire of the Ukrainian people to protect and defend their own country – their belief in their sovereign right to defend themselves.
“And may I pay tribute, by the way, to the leadership and courage that is being shown by Volodymyr Zelensky. I think he has inspired and mobilised not only his own people, he’s inspiring and mobilising the world in outrage at what is happening in Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin has also underestimated the unity and resolve of the west and of the rest of the world.”
Johnson concluded: “One way or another, I am more convinced than ever, as this hideous conflict progresses, that Putin will fail and I believe that Putin must fail and we will succeed in protecting and preserving a sovereign and independent Ukraine.”
He also promised to make it easier for families of Ukranians to travel to the United Kingdom, pledging more than 200,000 Ukrainians could be allowed to join family in UK.
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