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Boris Johnson thanks Vladimir Putin for 'inspirational leadership' instead of Zelensky

Boris Johnson mistakenly thanked Russia's Vladimir Putin for his "inspirational leadership" instead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In his first major contribution as a backbench MP during a Commons debate, the Conservative former prime minister said it is important to "double down in our defence of the Ukrainians" if Mr Putin doubles down on his "aggression".
As he listed the reasons why Ukraine's counter-offensive is proving to be successful, though, Mr Johnson inadvertently thanked Mr Putin for his "inspirational leadership", before quickly correcting himself and thanking Mr Zelensky.
He said: "Thanks to the heroism of the Ukrainian armed forces, thanks in part to the weapons that we are proud to be offering, I congratulate my right honourable friend (James Heappey) on his description of the work of the UK armed forces, the weapons that we're sending, the huge list...
"Thanks also, of course, to the inspirational leadership of Vladimir Putin."
Mr Johnson immediately realised his mistake and added: "The inspirational leadership of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, forgive me, the Russian forces have, in recent days been expelled from large parts of the north-east of the country around Kharkiv.
"And they are under increasing pressure in Kherson in the south, and I have no doubt whatever that the Ukrainians will win."
It was the second time the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip made a backbench contribution in the Commons.
Boris Johnson slams Russia's 'cultural vandalism' in Ukraine
In his first appearance since standing down as prime minister, Mr Johnson paid tribute to the Queen in the special two-day event in Parliament.
During his speech on Ukraine, Mr Johnson also said the UK must be prepared to give "more military assistance" and "more economic support" to Kyiv.
He said: "If Putin is going to double down on his aggression, then we must double down in our defence of the Ukrainians, and we must be prepared to give more military assistance and more economic support, and I welcome warmly the announcements from this Government this week."
Boris Johnson: UK to 'never recognize' Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea
Mr Johnson also warned against encouraging Ukrainians to do a deal to "trade land for peace" to allow Russian gas to flow to Europe.
Supporting Ukraine was a key policy during Mr Johnson's premiership.
He was a close ally of Mr Zelenskyy and visited the war-torn country three times in the seven months since it was invaded.
His final visit came at the end of August, when he said high energy bills are something UK households must endure as part of the effort to resist Putin.
Shortly before he left office, Mr Zelenskyy wrote a piece for the Mail on Sunday in which he heaped praise on the former PM, describing him as a "true friend" and "ally".
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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