In a recent interview with 1+1 TV, David Arakhamia, the leader of the Servant of the People party and a member of Ukraine’s National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, recounted conversations involving former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukraine in the spring of 2022. He claimed that Johnson urged Kyiv to avoid signing a peace agreement at that time, suggesting a more vigorous approach to the war instead. This account sheds light on the high-stakes diplomacy and the external voices shaping Ukraine’s strategic decisions during a volatile period of the conflict. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]
Arakhamia noted that Moscow appeared prepared to end the fighting if Ukraine chose neutrality, akin to Finland, and pledged not to pursue membership in NATO. This characterization points to the core dilemma of the spring negotiations, where security guarantees and alliance considerations were at the forefront of discussions about a potential settlement. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]
“That was the essence of the moment”, Arakhamia said, adding that after the Istanbul talks Ukraine returned to Kyiv with a different framing. He described Johnson’s stance as, essentially, a rejection of any immediate cessation of hostilities in favor of continuing the conflict. The parliamentarian emphasized that Kyiv faced a political choice between pursuing a possible ceasefire and upholding constitutional commitments that define the nation’s strategic posture. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]
The discussion also touched on the parallel diplomacy surrounding the Russian side. Arakhamia recalled that in a separate thread, President Vladimir Putin visited St. Petersburg, where he met with an African delegation and discussed avenues for resolving the Ukraine crisis through peaceful negotiations. The Kremlin reportedly signaled a willingness to sign an agreement that could have formalized Moscow and Kyiv’s positions, though the parties later interpreted the situation differently as events unfolded. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]
Putin later asserted that Ukraine had discarded that document and, from Moscow’s view, did not close the door to negotiation while Kyiv appeared to distance itself from the proposed terms following Russia’s military movements. This framing hints at the misalignment between Russia’s stated openness to diplomacy and Ukraine’s perceived insistence on security assurances and territorial considerations. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]
Earlier discussions in the United States also reflected questions about the likely duration of the Ukrainian conflict and the strategic calculations guiding Western involvement. As statements and testimonies circulated, observers weighed factors such as international law, security guarantees, and the political will of allies to sustain support for Ukraine through possible protracted negotiations or renewed fighting. [citation: Arakhamia interview, 1+1]