Boris Johnson was Kyiv’s darling. Now that he is leaving, Ukraine fears what’s subsequent

Boris Johnson was Kyiv's darling. Now that he's leaving, Ukraine fears what's next

[ad_1]



CNN
 — 

When Boris Johnson finally announced he would step down as UK Prime Minister on Thursday, after desperately trying to cling onto power despite a historic government rebellion, his decision sparked a sense of relief across Westminster.

In Kyiv, it was met with despair.

Johnson has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine as it tries to defend itself against Russia’s unprovoked assault, and his departure stirred up fears that the UK’s support for the country – worth £3.8 billion ($4.6 billion) so far this year – might start to dwindle.

With the whole Western world united behind it, Ukraine has no shortage of supporters. But Johnson was seen as a special ally in Kyiv. In early April, he became one of the first foreign leaders to make the precarious trip to the Ukrainian capital, then returned on another surprise visit last month.

[ad_2]