THE former President of Ukraine has chastised Boris Johnson for comparing Brexit to the fightback against the Russian invasion.
Petro Poroshenko asked the Prime Minister to “please” not draw a link between the Ukrainian resistance to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Clad in a flak vest and backed by what appeared to be three Ukrainian soldiers armed with guns, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s predecessor told ITV news that “zero” Britons had died as a result of Brexit – but “thousands” have since war broke out in Eastern Europe.
'How many Britons died because of Brexit? Zero'
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) March 22, 2022
Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko tells ITV News that @BorisJohnson should 'please' avoid comparing the Ukrainian resistance to Brexit https://t.co/1eNOWg9igo pic.twitter.com/6ZXuiIIUt1
READ MORE: SNP's Stewart McDonald hails UK MPs coming together to give support to Ukraine
He said: “Only today we have 150 Ukrainian children who were killed by Russian soldiers and Russian artillery.
“Can I ask you how many houses were destroyed because of Brexit? We have whole cities that have been completely destroyed.
"With this situation, please, no comparison."
Johnson sparked fury within the UK with the remark which was branded “obscene” by commentator Ian Dunt.
Speaking at the Scottish Conservatives’ spring conference, the Prime Minister said: “I know it’s the instincts of people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom every time.
“I can give you a couple of recent examples. When the British people voted for Brexit in such large numbers, I don’t believe it was because they are remotely hostile to foreigners, it’s because they wanted to be free to do things differently, for this country to be able to do things differently and run itself.”
READ MORE: People of Russia are also suffering from the consequences of Vladimir Putin's war
Johnson’s official spokesman has doubled down and denied the Tory leader regretted the comments.
"He was making observations about people's desire for freedom," the spokesperson said.
“There was not a direct comparison made between fighting in Ukraine. As the Chancellor [Rishi Sunak] said, they are not directly analogous."
The spokesperson added: “It is worth noting that the Ukrainian ambassador was in the audience at the time and gave a standing ovation at the end of the speech, and he tweeted his thanks to the Prime Minister.”
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said “normal people” would not think Johnson was making a link between Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
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