Boris Johnson may be stepping down as prime minister of the United Kingdom, but if the Ukrainian people get his way, he could return to the political scene right away.
Roman Maksymchuk, a supporter, has started a petition on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s website requesting that Boris be given Ukrainian citizenship so that he can take charge of the Kyiv government.
He urged the government to “explore the prospect of awarding Boris Johnson Ukrainian citizenship, and to submit his candidacy for the role of Prime Minister of Ukraine.”
As the position is now held by former regional governor Denys Shmyhal, there is no opening at this time.
The petition applauds Mr. Johnson for taking a “clear stance against the military invasion of Ukraine,” and he is praised for Britain’s unwavering support of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
If it gathers 25,000 signatures over the following three months, Mr. Zelensky will be required to formally react. Just over 5,000 names were collected as of last night.
The tongue-in-cheek advertising, according to a source close to the Ukrainian president, was “a good idea.”
After Mr. Johnson made two unexpected excursions to Ukraine during the war, including an unplanned walkabout in Kyiv, the capital city, the two men developed a close “bromance.”
Before he leaves Downing Street in September, the Prime Minister might earn a third.
Although he hasn’t addressed the petition, Mr. Zelensky told TalkTV on Wednesday that he hoped the victor of the Tory leadership contest would offer Mr. Johnson a high-ranking position.
“I want him to be in a position of authority in politics,” I said. I don’t want him to vanish, but the British people will decide that, he said.
His remarks come after Mr. Johnson presented the Sir Winston Churchill Medal to the President of Ukraine.