Boris Johnson Trump defense has once again stirred controversy. The former UK Prime Minister continues to justify Donald Trump’s moves, even when they appear grotesque to much of the Western world. His latest piece in The Daily Mail captures the paradox: calling Putin’s reception in the U.S. “vomit-inducing,” while still praising Trump for trying to negotiate peace. This contradiction is not a curiosity — it is a symptom of Europe’s moral paralysis.
Context: Johnson, Trump, and Ukraine
Johnson’s love for Ukraine is unquestionable. He has walked Kyiv’s streets with Zelensky, urged Britain to arm Ukraine, and condemned Putin with Churchillian rhetoric. Yet he cannot resist defending Trump, even after Trump referred to Putin as “the boss.” The Boris Johnson Trump stance becomes more puzzling when we remember Johnson openly despises appeasement.
Meanwhile, the European Union still does business with Russia. In 2024, EU–Russia trade hit €67.5 billion, including record imports of 16.5 million tons of Russian LNG. So while Johnson spits bile at Putin’s smile, his beloved Europe is fueling the Kremlin’s war machine with cash.
Oppositional Argument: The hypocrisy of Western leaders
Here lies the hypocrisy. Johnson frames Trump’s diplomacy as distasteful but necessary, yet he ignores the deeper betrayal — Europe’s complicity. Applauding Trump for “trying” while excusing Europe for financing Putin’s bombs is absurd. The Boris Johnson Trump defense is really a distraction from the West’s real failure: sanctioning loudly, buying quietly.
Unlike Johnson, I argue Trump’s optics matter. Rolling out the red carpet for Putin legitimizes him, regardless of whether the meeting ends in failure. Meanwhile, the EU’s gas purchases ensure Russia can keep financing bloodshed. Both actions sabotage Ukraine’s survival.
Analytical Breakdown: Why Johnson is wrong
Johnson insists Trump “was right to try” because peace is worth any risk. But this is naïve. Negotiations only work when both sides see compromise as beneficial. Putin seeks domination, not settlement. By praising Trump’s gamble, Johnson encourages a false hope.
Let’s be clear: Russia’s economy is strained, yes, but still sustained by European buyers. The EU’s continued energy purchases — despite U.S. secondary sanctions — provide Moscow with critical revenue. If Johnson wants to scold anyone, it should be Berlin, Paris, and Brussels, not just Putin’s grotesque grin.
EU trade with Russia proves that European governments are still enablers. Ukraine’s agony is extended not because Trump met Putin, but because Europe feeds the beast.
Human Perspective: The soldier in the trench
Picture a Ukrainian soldier in Pokrovsk, listening to Trump call Putin his “boss.” Johnson says the soldier still “hopes” Trump can deliver peace. I disagree. That soldier knows peace will only come when Russia is defeated or starved of resources. Trump’s theatrics mean nothing compared to the EU tankers full of Russian gas docking in European ports.
Ukrainian widows, orphans, and amputees do not need red-carpet diplomacy. They need Europe to stop importing Russian fertilizer, steel, and oil. Yet Johnson directs his anger at Trump’s tone, while excusing Europe’s wallets.
Counterarguments: Was Trump still right to try?
Supporters of Johnson’s stance argue: diplomacy always beats war. “Better a failed summit than none at all,” they say. But this argument collapses when diplomacy is staged for optics, not results. Trump left Alaska with nothing — no concessions, no ceasefire, no prisoner swaps. The only winner was Putin, who got legitimacy for free.
Conclusion: Stop hiding behind Trump
The Boris Johnson Trump defense is not strategy — it is moral cowardice. Johnson distracts us with words like “vomit” while ignoring Europe’s funding of Putin’s war machine. The real test is not whether Trump risks embarrassment in Alaska. The real test is whether Europe stops paying Russia billions while Ukrainians die.
Boris Johnson may keep defending Trump. I will not. Ukraine’s future depends less on Trump’s theatrics and more on Europe’s courage to finally cut the Kremlin off. Until then, every European tanker of Russian gas is a betrayal.
Internal links:
- Trump Zelensky Peace Deal: A Surrender in Diplomatic Mask
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Trump Criticism: Why His Words Still Matter
External links:
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