Boris Johnson claims Britain’s ability to support Ukraine has been boosted by Brexit

Boris Johnson tonight claimed Britain’s ability to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion has been boosted by Brexit.

The ex-prime minister insisted Britain’s departure from the EU would enable it to approach the Ukraine war “very individually”.

Mr Johnson suggested Britain’s delivery of thousands of NLAWS – the anti-tank weapon systems – to Ukraine would not have happened if Britain had stuck to the “old EU approach”.

Speaking at a think tank event on his trip to Washington DC, Mr Johnson contradicted a suggestion that Britain could have taken a leading role in supporting Kyiv “despite Brexit”.

Boris Johnson insisted Britain’s exit from the EU would enable it to approach the Ukraine war “very individually”.

The ex-PM suggested Britain’s delivery of thousands of NLAWS – the anti-tank weapon systems – to Ukraine would not have happened if Britain had stuck to the “old EU approach”.

Answering questions after a speech at the Atlantic Council, the former Prime Minister said: “First of all, that sentence ‘despite Brexit’.

“I seriously believe that it was partly thanks to Brexit that we were able to take a decision and take an approach that is very different from the old EU approach, which incidentally is all driven by the fabled Normandy format became.

“Remember the Normandy format agreed in Normandy in 2014.

“For reasons that are now unclear to me, the UK Government decided it did not want to be involved.

“France and Germany led it, that was the EU framework. If we had stuck with it, I don’t think we would have delivered the NLAWS.

“And I think we would have taken a very different approach to be completely candid.

“So I think because of Brexit we were able to do things differently and I hope in a way that was useful for Ukraine.”

But Mr Johnson added that world leaders all accepted that there was “no way forward” other than supporting Ukraine against Vladimir Putin’s forces.

“Whenever people come together on this issue, they are driven by the logic of the position… to support Ukraine,” he said.

“Because you can’t make a deal with Putin, everyone realizes that – France, Germany, wherever, we all come to the same conclusion.

“There is no way forward other than supporting the Ukrainians.”

Mr Johnson caused fury last year with his comparison between Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion and Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Critics were quick to point out that Ukraine itself had applied for membership in the Brussels-based bloc.

Others said it was an “insult” to compare Brexit to how Ukrainians sacrificed their lives to fight for freedom.

Mr Johnson also used his trip to Washington DC this week to put pressure on Britain and the US to supply fighter jets to Ukraine

Downing Street today continued to rule out sending British warplanes to Ukraine, despite Mr Johnson’s intervention

Mr Johnson has used his trip to Washington DC this week to pressure Western leaders to supply fighter jets to Ukraine – although both Britain and the US rule out such a move.

In a swipe at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden’s reluctance to provide air support to Kyiv, he told Fox News: “Every time we say it’s going to be a mistake to give this and that weapon item, we do in the end, and in the end it’s the right thing for Ukraine.”

Downing Street today continued to rule out sending British warplanes to Ukraine, despite Mr Johnson’s intervention.

Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “It is not practical to send British jets at this time, we will continue to work closely with Ukrainians to understand their needs and how allies can further support them.

“Given the complexity of British fighter aircraft and the time required to train them, we do not believe this is practical at this time.”