Donald Trump will fail to “make America great again” if he lets Ukraine fall into the hands of Vladimir Putin, Boris Johnson has warned.
The former prime minister urged Republicans in Congress, who have stalled a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv, to unite against Russia to maintain America’s status as the world’s pre-eminent superpower.
Invoking Ronald Reagan, he said the move would deter China from attacking Taiwan, while issuing a defence of Nato and hitting out at Western countries for appeasing Vladimir Putin.
Mr Johnson endorsed Mr Trump’s run for the presidency in January at the start of the primary season, saying he did not believe the Republican would “abandon” Ukraine.
However, his comments on Wednesday – at a conservative conference in Canada alongside former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott – suggest that belief has wavered.
It follows reports that Mr Trump has drawn up a plan to let Moscow seize parts of eastern Ukraine and maintain its grip on Crimea.
“If you are the party of Ronald Reagan, if you want to make America great again, then you don’t begin a new Republican presidency – which may well happen… by conceding victory to Vladimir Putin,” Mr Johnson said.
“It would be a disaster for the West and it would be a disaster for America… Ukrainians are a free sovereign, independent, European nation and what has happened to them is criminal and barbaric”.