'Boris Johnson Derailed the Peace Deal': How Russia Shifts the Blame

What Happened in Istanbul

In March–April 2022, Ukraine and Russia held negotiations in Istanbul. Framework conditions were discussed:

What Russia demanded:

• Ukraine permanently renounces joining NATO
• Limits on the size of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and weaponry
• “Neutral status” — no military alliances
• Recognition of Crimea as Russian (or “deferring” the issue)
• “Special status” for the Donbas
• Demilitarization — reducing the army to a level that would not threaten Russia

What Ukraine wanted:

• Security guarantees from specific countries (analogous to NATO’s Article 5)
• Withdrawal of all Russian forces
• Restoration of territorial integrity

Why the Agreement Did Not Happen

1. Bucha (April 1, 2022)

Right in the middle of negotiations, the world saw Bucha — the mass killing of civilians. Trust in any Russian “guarantees” fell to zero. How can you sign a peace agreement with a country that executes civilians with their hands tied?

2. The Terms = Capitulation

Russia’s “peace proposals” envisioned: Ukraine gives up its army, NATO, and sovereignty — in exchange for “guarantees” from a country that had already violated the Budapest Memorandum and the Minsk Agreements.

3. Arakhamia: The Decision Was Made Before Johnson

Davyd Arakhamia (head of the “Servant of the People” parliamentary faction, a participant in the negotiations) said in a 2023 interview:

• He confirmed that negotiations took place
• He clarified that Ukraine decided not to sign on its own — before Johnson’s visit
• The reason — the absence of real security guarantees: no guarantor country was willing to fight for Ukraine in the event of a new Russian attack

4. Johnson: “Total Nonsense”

Boris Johnson himself called the accusation “total nonsense.” His visit to Kyiv (April 9, 2022) was intended to express support, not to “forbid peace.”

Why Russia Promotes This Narrative

1. Shift the blame — “we wanted peace, but they wouldn’t let you have it”
2. Undermine Western support — “it’s the West that’s fighting, not letting Ukraine stop”
3. Conceal Bucha — divert attention from the fact that it was Bucha that made peace impossible
4. Create division — between Ukraine and its allies

Historical Parallel: Minsk

Russia has already signed “peace agreements” with Ukraine twice — and twice violated them:

• Minsk-1 (2014) — violated within weeks
• Minsk-2 (2015) — used for rearmament

Merkel and Hollande later admitted that Minsk was merely a cover for preparations.

Signing a third “peace agreement” with Russia without real guarantees is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting a different result.