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Nile Gardiner, a former adviser to Margaret Thatcher, told Express.co.uk that the UK is “by far the leading power in Europe” when it comes to “responding to Russian aggression”. This, he said, is a result of Brexit, which he described as being a “game-changer” for Britain in terms of its “leadership on the world stage”. Mr Gardiner said that the country is “far more self-confident, assertive and willing to project power” now that it has departed from the EU.<\/p>\n
This comes as the UK has been widely praised for its response to Ukraine.<\/p>\n
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Mr Johnson as “an example”, suggesting that other countries were “performing a balancing act” when it comes to the war between Russia and Ukraine.<\/p>\n
He said: “Britain is definitely on our side<\/p>\n
“It is not performing a balancing act.<\/p>\n
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“Britain sees no alternative for the way out of the situation. Britain wants Ukraine to win and Russia to lose.”<\/p>\n
Speaking to the Economist, he added: “Johnson is a leader who is helping more.<\/p>\n
“The leaders of countries react according to how their constituents act.<\/p>\n
“In this case, Johnson is an example.”<\/p>\n
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Mr Gardiner echoed this, telling Express.co.uk: “Undoubtedly I think that the UK is in a far stronger position today on the world stage as a result of Brexit.<\/p>\n
“And we are seeing that very significantly with regards to the Ukraine crisis.<\/p>\n
“Britain is by far the leading power in Europe in responding to Russian aggression.<\/p>\n
“In fact, the British response has been significantly stronger than that of the Biden administration.<\/p>\n
DON’T MISS: <\/strong> “The UK today is far more self-confident, assertive and willing to project power than it was as part of the EU.<\/p>\n “I think Brexit has been a liberation for Britain in terms of its leadership on the world stage.<\/p>\n “It has been a huge game-changer.”<\/p>\n The UK, alongside NATO allies, has imposed a wide-ranging package of sanctions on Russia, has begun phasing out Russian energy and has been supplying Ukraine with weapons.<\/p>\n Some EU countries, such as France and Germany, have been criticised for their response to the crisis.<\/p>\n Mr Zelensky accused German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of contributing to a new “Berlin Wall” in Europe, citing as one example their initial failure to stop the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki hit out at French President Emmanuel Macron for continuing to meet with Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n
UK mocks Russia for ’embarrassing losses’ but Black Sea warning issued [REVEAL] <\/strong>
20 Russian warships and submarines amassing in the Black Sea [REPORT] <\/strong>
‘Anti-Brexit’ Joe Biden ‘eating his words’ as Boris ‘puts US to shame’ [ANALYSIS]<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Brexit-on-the-front-pages-4046105.jpg?r=1651250989782\")
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