Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed concern over yesterday’s phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that it could lead to a return to a diplomatic setup that treats Russia and Ukraine as equal parties in war resolution talks. Johnson, who has previously had a good relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, agreed with Zelenskyy’s assessment that the call opened “Pandora’s box” and gave Putin what he has long sought.
In a post to X, Johnson stated, “We risk drifting back to the ghastly Franco-German Normandy format which treated Russia and Ukraine as equally valid interlocutors in a domestic squabble.” He emphasized that this approach is a betrayal of reality, as Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is criminal and unjustifiable, while Ukraine is an innocent party in the conflict.
The Normandy Format is an informal diplomatic framework involving France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine that was established in 2014 to seek a peaceful resolution to the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine instigated by Russia. While the group initially had some success with the Minsk agreement, which aimed to end the fighting, it ultimately failed to bring a lasting solution, with accusations of violations from both Ukraine and Russia.
Despite ongoing meetings within the Normandy Format, no significant breakthrough has been achieved. Johnson’s comments reflect growing concerns about the potential implications of recent diplomatic engagements on the conflict in Ukraine.
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Photo credit news.sky.com
