Since Brexit, the fronts between the EU and Great Britain have hardened. But with the war in Ukraine, both parties are once again pulling in the same direction. The crisis also offers an opportunity for the British prime minister himself.
Things are usually turbulent in the British House of Commons. It is not uncommon for the speaker to jump up and loudly “Order!” shout to calm the belligerent MPs. On Tuesday evening, however, despite the packed hall, you could have heard a pin drop. All eyes were on a video screen through which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the congregation directly.
For the Ukraine, it is now a question of “To be or not to be”, according to Zelenskyj, based on Shakespeare. In view of the brave resistance of his compatriots, there could only be one answer. “It is definitely: to be”.“We will fight to the end, at sea, in the air,” the President continued. “We will continue to fight for our country, whatever the cost, in the forests, in the fields, on the banks, on the streets.” In 1940 Winston Churchill used similar words to pledge his country to defend itself against Nazi Germany.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said after Zelenskyy’s speech that the House of Commons had never heard such a speech before. Minutes of applause echoed through the House of Commons, all MPs had risen from their seats.
British play crucial role in Ukraine war
It is probably no coincidence that Zelenskyj chose London of all places for his first address to a national parliament. According to experts, the United Kingdom plays an important role in the strategic handling of the war in Ukraine – also because of its nuclear weapons.
Unlike countries like Germany, they were less surprised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. British politicians and the media have been skeptical of the Kremlin for years due to their own proximity to the USA. In addition, the poisoning attacks allegedly carried out by the Kremlin on Russian ex-agents – Alexander Litvinenko (2006) and Sergei Skripal (2018) – have further deteriorated relations.
It was Great Britain, along with the USA, who drew attention to the Russian threat at an early stage. Amid rising tensions, the British delivered weapons to Ukraine in early January, including important anti-tank weapons worth 80 million euros. In addition, the Ukrainian soldiers have been trained and educated by the British military for years. People in Kyiv are also aware of this. The British are seen as the closest and most reliable ally in terms of military support.
In his speech, Selenskyj expressly thanked “his friend Boris”, with whom he is said to be on the phone almost every day. He was grateful for British support in the war, which began much earlier than that of the European Union.
New bridges between EU and UK
At the same time, the war in Ukraine has moved something that had become unimaginable in recent years. What is probably the greatest security threat to the European continent for decades has brought the EU and Great Britain back to the table. Last Friday, the EU invited British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to attend a meeting of European foreign ministers – a first since Brexit.
Ever since the UK voted to leave the alliance nearly six years ago, rifts have grown between Brussels and London. Endless debates about fishing rights, a lack of communication and mutual distrust had cooled relations significantly. But faced with the common aggressor, it may be dawning on even the most die-hard Brexiteer that Moscow poses a greater threat than Brussels, and even Europe’s biggest critics know that sanctions against Russia work better with Britain on board than without.
Arriving in Brussels, Truss said it was now “vital” that the UK and its allies “show complete unity” in their response to Russia’s military action. Although she did not explicitly name the EU, the message was without a doubt: Britain and the EU side by side again.
“The EU and the UK look at the bigger picture and our fundamental interests and see a considerable degree of convergence,” says Sophia Gaston, director of the research institute British Foreign Policy Group. “The Russian invasion is a profound threat to Europeans, a challenge the West must face together.”
Boris Johnson benefits from crisis
With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the domestic political tide has also turned for Boris Johnson. Just a few weeks ago, the British prime minister was struggling to keep his political head above water. The daily newspapers were full of reports about lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street, and calls for resignation – including from our own ranks – grew louder.
Since the war began two weeks ago, the scandalous headlines have disappeared. Instead, there is growing praise for Johnson, who spends his time on phone calls with Western partners and has joined in tough sanctions on Russia.
However, not everything is running smoothly. In recent days, the British government has come under increasing criticism for its reluctance to take in Ukrainian refugees. So far, the country has taken in just 300 people, and there are a total of 17,700 open visa applications from family members. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace admitted in a BBC interview on Tuesday: “We can and will do more”.
Nevertheless, it is noticeable that even the opposition – which recently called for the prime minister’s resignation – is now adopting a softer tone. Nor is the time for a leadership change for the vast majority of Tories. A BBC report said: “Concerns about Boris Johnson’s leadership in his own party are no longer relevant for the time being, but they have not been forgotten.”
Sources: “”, “”, “”, with RND material
Source: Stern
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