Boris Johnson's Bizarre Comparison of Ukraine's War Efforts to Brexit Sparks Outrage

Strategic Insights -

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sparked widespread condemnation from world leaders and opposition MPs for his comparison of Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression with the British public's decision to vote for Brexit in 2016. In a speech to the Tory conference in Blackpool, Johnson stated that the "instinct of the people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom" was demonstrated in the Brexit referendum and in Ukraine's fight against Russian troops.

Key Takeaways:

  • Boris Johnson compared Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression to the British public's decision to vote for Brexit in 2016, sparking outrage from world leaders and opposition MPs.
  • The Prime Minister's comments were met with criticism from figures including the French Ambassador, former European Council President Donald Tusk, and Tory peer Lord Barwell, who pointed out that Ukraine is seeking to join the EU.
  • Johnson stated that the British people's decision to vote for Brexit was driven by a desire to be free to do things differently, and compared this to Ukraine's fight for freedom against Russian aggression.
  • The Prime Minister's comparison was widely condemned, with the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, describing it as an "insult to every Ukrainian".
  • Tory MP Tobias Ellwood criticized the Prime Minister's comments, stating that they "damage the standard of statecraft" being exhibited in the response to the invasion.
  • The Prime Minister's comparison has been met with widespread ridicule, with former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt describing it as "insane".

Statistics:

  • 52% of British voters supported Leave in the 2016 EU referendum (Source: BBC News).
  • Ukraine is seeking to join the European Union, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating that this is a top priority for his government.
  • Russian forces have killed over 170 civilians in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, with thousands more wounded (Source: Human Rights Watch).

Sources:

  • BBC News (2016) "EU Referendum: The results in full". Available at:
  • Human Rights Watch (2022) "Ukraine: Russian Forces Committing War Crimes". Available at:
  • The Guardian (2022) "Boris Johnson's comparison of Brexit to Ukraine war sparks outrage". Available at: