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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Boris Johnson: I'm sad about lack of British interest in Ukraine
Boris Johnson has said he is 'quite sad' about a lack of British interest in Ukraine, adding that speaking up for it was his number one priority. At an event for Ukrainian veterans at the country's London embassy this week, the former prime minister told The Telegraph: 'The interest in Ukraine and the appetite is so low nowadays. I find it quite sad. 'I mean, it sort of comes and goes, but it's number one for me. Number one.' Asked about how he evaluated his successors as Tory leader and prime minister on Ukraine, Mr Johnson said: 'Britain continues to be very important in this. But if you talk to some of my Ukrainian friends, they'll say that perhaps we're not in quite the leadership, the thought leadership, role that we were.' 'There are a lot of domestic issues that are very difficult right now, and you can see why they're distracted, but I think this is a big opportunity for Britain.' On a potential return to frontline politics, Mr Johnson added: 'I don't see any immediate way I can be particularly useful in British politics right now. But I think I can continue to talk about Ukraine.' Mr Johnson met Ukrainian veterans at the embassy event, organised by DTEK, the largest private investor in Ukraine's energy sector. He was greeted with applause by the group, some of whom had been tortured after capture. Asking about the soldiers' itinerary on their visit to Britain he said: 'I invited you to my pub in Somerset, but understandably that was too far.' One of the trip's organisers told him 'there is also a cultural programme' for the soldiers to learn about Britain, to which the former PM responded 'that's the pub', provoking laughter from the crowd. He is calling for European governments to seize the $300 billion of Russian assets frozen in Europe and send them to Ukraine, describing this as 'a down payment from Russia to Ukraine on the reparations that Russia will inevitably have to pay one day for what it has done'. Mr Johnson claimed Donald Trump, the US president, was in favour of such a move, despite concerns that it could spook international investors. 'This is an idea that is attractive to Donald Trump. He would like to do it, but the Europeans need to step up,' he added. It comes after Mr Johnson had said the best way for the Tories to counter Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, was to ignore him. He repeated that call on Friday, saying: 'If you've got a problem with a political doppelganger, don't talk about them. That's my strong advice. What voters want to hear is what we're doing, what we Tories are offering for them, whether they're 16 or 102. They want to know what the Tory plans are.' The most recent survey of voting intention by YouGov put Reform on 26 per cent, Labour on 24 per cent, and the Conservatives on 17. Speaking days after Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to give the vote to 16-year-olds, Mr Johnson said there was 'no reason why they shouldn't be persuaded to vote Tory at all'. Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has said she would focus on rebuilding the trust of voters before developing a comprehensive set of policies for the party's next election manifesto. Earlier this year she launched the Policy Renewal Programme and ditched the Conservatives' previous commitment to Net Zero by 2050 – a key pledge of Mr Johnson's Government. On the news this week of the Afghanistan data leak under the Conservatives, Mr Johnson said it was 'absolutely right' to protect Afghans at risk of repercussions from the Taliban. 'I knew nothing about this,' he said of the leak and subsequent super-injunction. 'I think it is, in principle, absolutely right to protect those who have helped our country, at great risk to their own lives and the lives of their families. I think it's absolutely right to try to do that.' Of the unprecedented super-injunction, which prevented journalists from reporting on the story or acknowledging the existence of the gagging order itself, Mr Johnson added: 'My first instinct would have been to use the D-notice process, but I don't know what the legal advice was.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine war veterans to be ringside for Usyk's heavyweight fight at Wembley Stadium
Ukrainian coal miner Andrii's face lit up as he spoke of meeting Oleksandr Usyk. "Wow!" the 36-year-old exclaimed in English. Andrii, alongside more than a dozen fellow war veterans, will be present at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night to witness Usyk's undisputed world heavyweight championship rematch against Daniel Dubois. It is a rematch of their 2023 bout that Andrii watched under vastly different circumstances. "I watched this fight on the front line on my phone," he told The Associated Press through an interpreter during a visit to the Ukrainian Embassy in London. "We were watching very quietly but when he won there was loud noise — we really celebrated. So now, two years later, being here in person for the fight is a huge event." He spoke on condition that only his first name be used, citing security concerns. The veterans are employees of Ukraine 's largest private energy company DTEK, which has partnered with Usyk to raise awareness about the plight of the country's civilian energy infrastructure since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Seldom travel Most of them, including Andrii, had never traveled outside Ukraine before. They took a train to Warsaw and from there a flight to London, landing Thursday and going straight to a downtown hotel to meet Usyk. 'He told about his training sessions, how he prepared for the fight, but he also mentioned his journey from his childhood to becoming champion,' Andrii said. 'He's an ambassador of Ukraine and he supports energy workers. He can bring attention to the problem.' Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine's power grid during the war. At one point, 90 per cent of DTEK's thermal generation capacity was damaged or destroyed. More than 300 DTEK workers have been killed in the war and 900 more injured, mostly while fighting. Andrii, who lives about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the front line in eastern Ukraine, had served two years in combat and described his injuries — a concussion and taking shrapnel in his right leg from an exploding land mine — as 'minor.' Like so many other Ukrainians, he's lost friends and loved ones. The bright lights and modern infrastructure of England 's iconic stadium will be a welcome change for the veterans. Won 2012 Olympic gold The 38-year-old Usyk, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Games, has embraced his unofficial ambassadorial role for his country. 'All of my fights are important for me and my team,' he said Thursday. 'Now, it's very important to my country and the soldiers who protect my country because it's motivation for my people.' Earlier in the week, Usyk joined billionaire Richard Branson to unveil a mosaic in Trafalgar Square as part of an effort to raise funds for housing for Ukrainians. 'Russia destroyed hospitals, Russia destroyed schools, Russia destroyed lives — Ukrainian lives,' the undefeated Usyk told the gathering. 'But we will survive.'
3 days ago
- Politics
War veterans go from Ukraine front lines to Wembley ringside for Usyk's heavyweight bout
LONDON -- Ukrainian coal miner Andrii's face lights up when he talks about meeting Oleksandr Usyk. 'Wow!' the 36-year-old says in English. Andrii and more than a dozen other war veterans will be on hand when Usyk faces Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night in the pair's fight to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. It's a rematch of their 2023 bout that Andrii viewed under vastly different circumstances. 'I watched this fight on the front line on my phone,' he told The Associated Press through an interpreter during a stop Friday at the Ukrainian Embassy in London. 'We were watching very quietly but when he won there was loud noise — we really celebrated. 'So now, two years later, being here in person for the fight is a huge event.' He spoke on condition that only his first name be used, citing security concerns. The veterans are employees of Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK, which has partnered with Usyk to raise awareness about the plight of the country's civilian energy infrastructure since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Most of them, including Andrii, had never traveled outside Ukraine before. They took a train to Warsaw and from there a flight to London, landing Thursday and going straight to a downtown hotel to meet Usyk. 'He told about his training sessions, how he prepared for the fight, but he also mentioned his journey from his childhood to becoming champion,' Andrii said. 'He's an ambassador of Ukraine and he supports energy workers. He can bring attention to the problem.' Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine's power grid during the war. At one point, 90% of DTEK's thermal generation capacity was damaged or destroyed. More than 300 DTEK workers have been killed in the war and 900 more injured, mostly while fighting. Andrii, who lives about 70 kilometers (44 miles) from the front line in eastern Ukraine, had served two years in combat and described his injuries — a concussion and taking shrapnel in his right leg from an exploding land mine — as 'minor.' Like so many other Ukrainians, he's lost friends and loved ones. The bright lights and modern infrastructure of England's iconic stadium will be a welcome change for the veterans. The 38-year-old Usyk, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Games, has embraced his unofficial ambassadorial role for his country. 'All of my fights are important for me and my team,' he said Thursday. 'Now, it's very important to my country and the soldiers who protect my country because it's motivation for my people.' Earlier in the week, Usyk joined billionaire Richard Branson to unveil a mosaic in Trafalgar Square as part of an effort to raise funds for housing for Ukrainians. 'Russia destroyed hospitals, Russia destroyed schools, Russia destroyed lives — Ukrainian lives,' the undefeated Usyk told the gathering. 'But we will survive.'
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
War veterans go from Ukraine front lines to Wembley ringside for Usyk's heavyweight bout
Ukraine's boxer Oleksandr Usyk signs autograph as he meets the Ukrainian war veterans, who are employees of Ukrainian power company DTEK at a hotel in Battersea Park in London, Thursday, July 17, 2025 ahead of the undisputed heavyweight champion boxing fight between Britain's Daniel Dubois and Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) KC flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Usyk vs Dubois 2 — From Ukraine to Wembley, heavyweight fight attracts war veterans from thousands of miles
Ukrainian coal miner Andrii's face lights up when he talks about meeting Oleksandr Usyk. 'Wow!' the 36-year-old says in English. Andrii and more than a dozen other war veterans will be on hand when Usyk faces Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night in the pair's fight to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. It's a rematch of their 2023 bout that Andrii viewed under vastly different circumstances. 'I watched this fight on the front line on my phone,' he told The Associated Press through an interpreter during a stop Friday at the Ukrainian Embassy in London. 'We were watching very quietly, but when he won, there was loud noise — we really celebrated. 'So now, two years later, being here in person for the fight is a huge event.' He spoke on condition that only his first name be used, citing security concerns. The veterans are employees of Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, which has partnered with Usyk to raise awareness about the plight of the country's civilian energy infrastructure since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Most of them, including Andrii, had never travelled outside Ukraine before. They took a train to Warsaw and from there a flight to London, landing on Thursday and going straight to a downtown hotel to meet Usyk. 'He told about his training sessions, how he prepared for the fight, but he also mentioned his journey from his childhood to becoming champion,' Andrii said. 'He's an ambassador of Ukraine, and he supports energy workers. He can bring attention to the problem.' RELATED: Usyk vs Dubois 2 LIVE streaming info — Where to watch; All you need to know; Boxing record Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine's power grid during the war. At one point, 90% of DTEK's thermal generation capacity was damaged or destroyed. More than 300 DTEK workers have been killed in the war, and 900 more injured, mostly while fighting. Andrii, who lives about 70 kilometres (44 miles) from the front line in eastern Ukraine, had served two years in combat and described his injuries — a concussion and taking shrapnel in his right leg from an exploding land mine — as 'minor.' Like so many other Ukrainians, he's lost friends and loved ones. The bright lights and modern infrastructure of England's iconic stadium will be a welcome change for the veterans. The 38-year-old Usyk, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2012 London Games, has embraced his unofficial ambassadorial role for his country. 'All of my fights are important for me and my team,' he said Thursday. 'Now, it's very important to my country and the soldiers who protect my country because it's motivation for my people.' Earlier in the week, Usyk joined billionaire Richard Branson to unveil a mosaic in Trafalgar Square as part of an effort to raise funds for housing for Ukrainians. 'Russia destroyed hospitals, Russia destroyed schools, Russia destroyed lives — Ukrainian lives,' the undefeated Usyk told the gathering. 'But we will survive.'
