| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Matt Le Tissier | |
| Posted by: | Francis Rowe | |
| Date/Time: | 23/02/24 12:01:00 |
| I don't recall Johnson saying this before the invasion and I couldn't find any record of him doing so. The only world leader I remember categorically saying Putin would launch the attack two years ago was Joe Biden. Johnson did warn of the consequences of invasion and tried to persuade him not to but it is hard to imagine the depth of contempt Putin would have had for him. However, his behaviour on Russian issues in the run up to the war might warrant further investigation. He told a select committee just a few months before the attack "the old concepts of fighting big tank battles on European land mass are over". Although he initially condemned the invasion of Crimea in 2014 by 2016 he was talking about 'moving on' and 'building bridges' the latter comment being particularly offensive to the Ukrainians because ground was then being broken on the Kerch Bridge project. He nailed his colours to the mast after the full scale invasion in 2022 but, with the prospect of loads of dosh for playing tennis with Russian oligarchs gone, there was no incentive for him to cosy up to the Kremlin anymore. |