Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ignited a firestorm after declaring that Russia is “losing” the war in Ukraine and claiming that Donald Trump has the power to bring the conflict to an end — just as he “did in Gaza.” Speaking during a televised interview in London, Johnson’s remarks drew immediate international attention, setting off a wave of political reactions across Europe, Washington, and Kyiv.
“Trump has an extraordinary ability to bring things to a head,” Johnson said, in comments broadcast on BBC News. “Look what happened in Gaza. Whether you like him or loathe him, he forced a resolution when others were dithering. And I believe he could do the same in Ukraine.”
Johnson’s reference to Gaza — where Trump’s administration pushed through an aggressive diplomatic and military posture during his term — immediately drew strong responses from both critics and supporters. Some hailed the comment as pragmatic realism; others blasted it as dangerously oversimplified. The conflict in Ukraine, now stretching into its third year, remains one of the bloodiest and most geopolitically fraught crises in decades.
“Trump has an extraordinary ability to bring things to a head. Look at Gaza. He could do the same in Ukraine.” — Boris Johnson @BBCWorld
According to a Reuters breakdown of Johnson’s remarks, the former Prime Minister insisted that Russian forces have “failed in their objectives” and that Ukraine now has the strategic upper hand. “Putin thought he could crush Kyiv in weeks,” Johnson said. “But the Ukrainian spirit, backed by the West, has humiliated him on the battlefield. Russia is losing.”
His bold claims come at a delicate moment in the war. Ukrainian forces have regained territory in several key regions, while Russian troops remain entrenched in the east. U.S. and European officials, according to The New York Times, are now debating how to pressure both sides into serious negotiations before the conflict drags even deeper into a grinding stalemate.
Johnson’s suggestion that Trump could singlehandedly broker an end to the war has been met with mixed reactions in Washington. Several senior Republicans close to the former president privately told Politico that Trump has discussed “fast-track options” for peace negotiations if he returns to the White House. But critics argue that his approach would likely involve forcing Kyiv to accept painful compromises, including territorial concessions.
“He forced Gaza to the table, and he could do the same with Ukraine,” said Boris Johnson, igniting a new geopolitical debate. @nytimes
Ukrainian officials reacted cautiously to Johnson’s comments. A senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN that Kyiv “welcomes all serious peace proposals,” but emphasized that Ukraine would not accept any plan that undermines its sovereignty or rewards Russian aggression. “We’ve seen shortcuts before,” the adviser said. “They don’t work. Ukraine is not Gaza. This is a full-scale war for survival.”
In Moscow, Johnson’s remarks were dismissed with scorn. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the statements “Western delusions” and insisted that Russia “remains committed to achieving its goals.” Russian state media, meanwhile, mocked Johnson personally, portraying him as a “failed politician seeking attention.” Analysts at RT claimed his comments were designed to “flatter Trump ahead of the U.S. election.”
But within Europe, the reaction has been more divided. Some Eastern European leaders privately told The Financial Times they believe Trump’s blunt, unpredictable style could indeed jolt the stalled conflict into a new phase. Others, particularly in Brussels, fear his involvement would undermine NATO unity and embolden Russia.
“Ukraine is not Gaza. This is a full-scale war for survival.” — Senior Zelenskyy adviser @CNN
Trump himself has repeatedly claimed he could “end the war in 24 hours,” a line he has used in campaign rallies and interviews. “It’s easy,” he said earlier this year, according to Fox News. “Putin and Zelenskyy would be at the table, and I’d make a deal. Fast. This war should never have happened in the first place.”
Critics, however, warn that Trump’s “deal-making” approach often involves pressuring smaller nations to accept terms favorable to stronger powers. “His idea of diplomacy is transactional,” explained one foreign policy expert to Foreign Affairs. “That might work in some conflicts. But in Ukraine, it could be catastrophic.”
Boris Johnson’s praise for Trump’s Gaza strategy is also controversial. While the Trump administration claimed success in “forcing talks,” many observers, including human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, argue that the policies worsened conditions on the ground and failed to bring lasting peace. Applying that model to Ukraine, experts say, could lead to a fragile ceasefire at best and prolonged instability at worst.
“His idea of diplomacy is transactional. In Ukraine, that could be catastrophic.” — Foreign policy expert @ForeignAffairs
Still, Johnson’s remarks are reverberating through international media and political circles, in part because of the timing. With Trump dominating headlines in the U.S. election cycle and European nations increasingly frustrated with the war’s cost, talk of a strongman-style resolution has gained traction in some quarters. “Many are tired,” one EU diplomat told Euronews. “And when people are tired, bold claims like Trump’s start to sound appealing — even if they’re dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian civilians continue to bear the brunt of the war. Just hours after Johnson’s interview aired, Russian missiles struck Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens, according to The Kyiv Post. Ukrainian officials said the strikes underscore why Kyiv refuses to accept any “quick fix” solution that legitimizes Russian control.
Inside the U.S., Johnson’s remarks have already been seized upon by Trump’s campaign, which is portraying them as proof of the former president’s unique geopolitical power. At a rally in Ohio, Trump told supporters that even foreign leaders “know I’m the only one who can stop this mess.” The crowd roared in response as he promised, once again, to “end the war in one day.”
Whether or not such a claim is realistic, the symbolism is potent. As analysts told NBC News, Trump’s perceived ability to singlehandedly influence conflicts is becoming a core pillar of his foreign policy image — one that resonates with both allies and adversaries. “This isn’t about policy,” one expert said. “It’s about power.”
“Even foreign leaders know I’m the only one who can stop this mess.” — Donald Trump at Ohio rally @NBCNews
For now, Johnson’s claim that “Russia is losing” may be contested on the battlefield, but his prediction that Trump could upend the trajectory of the war has landed with force in capitals around the world. As the U.S. election approaches, world leaders may soon have to decide whether they believe Trump’s brand of pressure politics will bring an end to one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century — or unleash something far more unpredictable.