British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the German chancellor a positive testimony in an interview with the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”. He gets along very well with Olaf Scholz, according to Johnson. When asked about Western unity, he said the EU had made progress. “Look at what Olaf Scholz has done, the incredible commitment to the Ukrainians, I would never have believed in my life that a German chancellor would make such decisions, it’s great what he’s doing. And I can’t imagine that which is easy in its own political set-up,” Johnson said.
In the interview, he also warned against “Ukraine fatigue”. “Rising energy costs and food prices, rising inflation, all of this is affecting people’s staying power,” Johnson said. They will continue to help Ukraine, but it must also be clear: “We cannot be more Ukrainian than the Ukrainians.” By that he means that one cannot impose one’s own views on the country and that Ukrainians are victims of Putin. “They have to decide what they want to do.”
Topic: Brexit agreement on Northern Ireland
Johnson also downplayed the dispute with the EU over his government’s plans to overturn the Brexit agreements for Northern Ireland. He described the criticism from Brussels as “very moderate”. Everyone involved would be interested in finding “creative and pragmatic” solutions – including himself. Johnson added: “I signed this thing myself.”
The Conservative government from London presented a bill last week that would allow it to unilaterally revoke the agreements from the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol. Protests came from Brussels and the announcement that several infringement procedures would be pursued. Johnson, however, was unimpressed.
The Prime Minister compared Britain’s future role in Europe to that of a flying buttress in Gothic architecture lying outside the building. “Flying pillars are extravagant, and they’re beautiful, and they support the building from the outside.”
