Driven off Downing Street, still loved in Kyiv: Ukrainians will name streets and squares after Boris Johnson, Boris Johnson croissants already exist. The Briton has given Ukraine strength and hope.
Boris Johnson was not only controversial as prime minister in Great Britain, he also made no friends in the EU and within the G7 because of his Brexit policy. In Ukraine, however, which he has visited three times since the beginning of the great Russian war of aggression, Johnson is an absolute hero – and probably the most popular foreign politician in history. His last visit to Kyiv at the end of August explains why.
Not only was Johnson the first Western head of government to venture into the Ukrainian capital at the beginning of April, when the Russian army had only just left the north-western suburbs. It also came on a day when Kievans expected increased Russian rocket fire – August 24, Ukraine’s Independence Day, which also marked half a year of the major invasion. On that day, when air raid sirens rang out seven times in Kyiv, Johnson walked unperturbed through the city center with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to whom he had previously bestowed the Sir “Winston Churchill Leadership Award”. For his part, Johnson received a plaque on the “Avenue of Courage” in Kyiv, which opened on August 24.
It is questionable whether it was a wise idea from a safety point of view to be on the street in the city center on that day. There were no rocket hits in Kyiv on August 24, but the Ukrainian air defense system fired rockets that were probably flying in the direction of Kyiv. On the symbolic level, however, the visit should not be underestimated. The Ukrainians are also aware that the British government’s Ukraine policy does not depend solely on Johnson – Great Britain, along with the USA and Poland, is one of Kiev’s biggest supporters when it comes to arms deliveries. This will hardly change under Johnson’s successor Liz Truss. But it wasn’t just that. Johnson’s disheveled charisma resonated well in Ukraine. The Ukrainians are an emotional people, even stronger than usual during a war, and they love it when spectacular actions, melodious words and real deeds go together. They like it even more when something is not perfect, but comes from the soul.
In London, Johnson may be a rightfully criticized political figure. But most Ukrainians are not interested in the details of British domestic politics. In times of brutal Russian aggression, Johnson struck a chord with the Ukrainian people. He gave them strength and hope. The Polish President Andrzej Duda is also enormously grateful in Ukraine for his commitment. Rather, he embodies the incredible helping hand of his entire country. In addition, the Polish attitude was not a surprise, despite the often different perspectives on the common history. This was different with the strong, not least emotional support from London.
Of course, Johnson may have tried to use his visits to Ukraine as a distraction from things that weren’t going so well for him back in England. However, the Ukrainians never had the feeling that the British prime minister was not being honest with them. On the contrary, it was felt that he was enthusiastic about President Zelenskyj and actually saw him as a kind of continuation of his idol Churchill. It was also obvious to Johnson that he enjoys the love of the masses of Ukrainians – the love and enthusiasm he didn’t have back home in the UK.
Indeed, there is no doubt that Ukrainians will never forget Boris Johnson. Streets and squares are set to be named after him – and are already happening, for example in the Kiev suburb of Wassylkiv. In Kyiv, too, a Boris Johnson Street is only a matter of time. There is a veritable cult of Johnson in mass culture: two of the most popular songs of recent months quote his words “Dobryj Den Everybody” (Hello everyone), which he said in Kyiv. A hip coffee shop in the historic Podil district serves Boris Johnson croissants, fast-food chains advertise him and sell T-shirts with his face on them.
And so Boris Johnson will remain part of Ukrainian history. Incidentally, not as Boris Johnson, but as Boris Johnsonjuk, as he is often called in this country: Johnson’s Instagram account is called @borisjohnsonuk. This can also be read as a typical Ukrainian name ending.
