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Boris Johnson claims Ed Miliband is to blame for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Boris Johnson has accused Ed Miliband of bearing responsibility for Vladimir Putin's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, following Andy Burnham's decision to appoint him foreign secretary. Johnson argued that Miliband's role in blocking UK military intervention in Syria in 2013 emboldened Putin, framing the appointment as a poor choice that would please the Kremlin. The row highlights wider tensions over the reshuffle, with reports that the White House has voiced concern about Miliband taking on Britain's top diplomatic role.
Sharing a Telegraph article on X, Johnson claimed Miliband's "failure to stand up to Bashar al-Assad" after the 2013 chemical weapons attack "led directly" to Putin's first invasion of Ukraine the following year. Miliband took up the foreign secretary post on Monday, reportedly chosen for his international negotiating experience, but Donald Trump's administration is said to have warned against the move, partly over his support for green energy policies unpopular with Trump and past comments calling the US president a "racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper". Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds insisted the appointment would not harm US-UK relations, saying the government could work with "robust" American allies despite differences.
In short
- Johnson blames Miliband's Syria stance for Putin's 2014 Ukraine invasion.
- Miliband became foreign secretary under new PM Andy Burnham.
- White House reportedly uneasy over Miliband's appointment and past Trump criticism.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Johnson's supporters argue that foreign policy decisions—or the appearance of indecision—send signals to authoritarian regimes about democratic resolve. The 2013 Syria vote, in which Miliband opposed military intervention following chemical weapons use, represented a moment when Britain might have demonstrated clear consequences for authoritarian violence; the subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 suggests that perceived Western hesitation may have influenced Putin's calculations regarding Western responses to aggression. Miliband's appointment to foreign secretary, given these concerns and the White House's reported unease, therefore warrants serious scrutiny.
The case against
Critics observe that Russia's Ukraine invasion stemmed from multiple geopolitical factors—including its sphere-of-influence concerns, NATO expansion debates, and the Georgian precedent—rather than primarily from any single nation's Syria policy. Miliband's 2013 parliamentary opposition reflected principled democratic judgment shared by many foreign policy experts who questioned whether military intervention would have achieved its aims. Appointing him based on his substantial negotiating experience and international credentials represents a sound assessment of who can best serve Britain's current diplomatic interests, irrespective of past disagreements with key allies.
Explained simply
Ed Miliband has been appointed as Britain's foreign secretary in a recent government reshuffle. He was reportedly chosen for his international negotiating experience.
The current row stems from a 2013 parliamentary vote when Miliband opposed UK military intervention in Syria after a chemical weapons attack. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, has claimed that this decision emboldened Russia's Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine in 2014.
The position is crucial to Britain's international relations and security. The appointment has attracted international attention, with the US administration reportedly voicing concerns about the decision, though ministers insist it will not harm Britain's relationship with America.
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