Boris Johnson has claimed that Ukraine and the United States are “very close” to agreeing a deal that would give the US revenues from Ukrainian natural resources as a form of compensation for its military aid.
In recent days, the White House has been pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, to sign a $500 billion deal in which he would give the US half of his country’s mineral resources.
The Trump administration has labelled this claim as “payback” for earlier US military assistance. But Zelenskyy has so far refused to sign, citing a lack of security guarantees.
In an X post on Monday morning to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Boris Johnson saluted the “continuing heroism of the Ukrainian people.”
The former prime minister, who left office in 2022, also condemned “the bizarre untruths currently being peddled” about the origins of the conflict.
He added: “I urge people to keep cool and look at the facts of the continuing US support for Ukraine, under Donald Trump, and I remain convinced that Ukraine will have a great future as a free sovereign and independent nation.
“Slava Ukraini!”
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In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, he further criticised the rhetoric surrounding the origins of the war, including that being peddled by the White House.
Johnson, speaking from Kyiv, said: “What you’re hearing from the White House and a lot of people in America about the responsibility for the war and blaming Ukraine, this is Orwellian.
“You might as well blame the girl for attacking the shark in the opening reel of Jaws. It’s just total rubbish. Ukraine is the victim.”
He went on to say that a US-Ukraine minerals deal would “commit the [United States] not only to further financing of Ukraine, but also to a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine.
“And that is not to be sneezed at. That’s a very, very important commitment. It also, as it happens, spells out in the agreement that Russia is the aggressor in this war.
“Now, people will say, ‘Oh, this deal is extortionate for Ukraine, and America is being too rapacious’, but not a penny can flow from this investment fund that is going to be set up unless you have a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine.
“And don’t forget, a sovereign country is a great thing. A sovereign country can decide which clubs it wants to join, like Nato. A sovereign country can decide which troops it wants to invite onto its soil to help protect it.”
Press on whether it is his understanding that the US and Ukraine will sign a minerals deal over the coming days, Johnson said: “It’s my hope that they will. I can’t absolutely be sure that that is going to happen.
“Various drafts have been floating around over the last few days.
“The only point I’m trying to make is that when you look at this deal, when you look at what it says in black and white about the American commitment to Ukraine, to the freedom, sovereignty and security of Ukraine, when you look at what it envisages for the long term, for Ukraine, that’s integration with the West, economic integration with the West, a big partnership with most powerful economy in the world — that’s positive for a country that wants to be free from Russian control.
“That’s positive, in my view, for Ukraine. Yes, it is a good deal for United States as well.”
He added: “America has a history of demanding a price for its support, and from where I stand today, I think that price for Ukraine is reasonable.”
Security minister Dan Jarvis was later questioned over Johnson’s claim that a minerals deal between the US and Ukraine could be agreed soon.
He told Good Morning Britain: “The prime minister [Keir Starmer]… is travelling to Washington later this week. He spent the weekend talking to international partners.
“It does feel like this is a very important moment, an opportunity to bring together a process that will lead to the conclusion of this conflict, which has gone on for far too long.
“The human cost for the people of Ukraine is unbearable, and the UK will do everything it possibly can to both support Ukraine… and work with our international allies — of which, of course, the Americans are absolutely key — to bring this illegal invasion by Putin to a conclusion.”
Pressed on Johnson’s comments, Jarvis said: “Let’s see where we get to over the next few days.
“As a former prime minister, he will understand that there is a diplomatic process that is underway. That’s why the prime minister spent the weekend talking to international allies.
“That’s why the prime minister is flying to Washington later this week. It does feel like it is a pivotal moment.
“What the UK will do is work closely with our international allies, both in Europe… and of course, not least, with the special relationship we have with the US.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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