Former chief adviser to Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, recently caused controversy with his scathing criticism of Western support for Ukraine. Here’s the full story.
Explosive Fallout
Former chief advisor to Boris Johnson, professional contrarian, and the man many would claim to be the architect of Vote Leave’s success, Dominic Cummings is back in the nation’s headlines after laying low for a few years following his explosive fallout with disgraced former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Controversial Interview
Like many fallen right-wing agitators, such as Laurence Fox, Cummings is unsure how welcome his return to British politics with what he called a “Start Up Party” in a highly controversial interview with the i newspaper would be.
Scathing Review
In his first newspaper interview since leaving Number 10, where Boris Johnson infamously defended him for illegally travelling from London to Durham during lockdown, Cummings launched into a full-throated scathing review of Western support for Ukraine.
“Stupid Situation”
In an interview, almost as full of expletives as it was full of condemnation of the West, Cummings declared that Western countries “should have never got into the whole stupid situation.”
Not “A Replay of 1940”
Cummings blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upon Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, claiming the war was not “a replay of 1940 with the Potemkin Zelensky as the Churchillian underdog.”
“Corrupt Mafia State”
Cummings then appeared to take a line directly from the Kremlin’s playbook, stating that the “Ukrainian corrupt mafia state has basically conned us all and we’re all going to get [expletive] as a consequence. We are getting [expletive] now right?”
No Right to Exist
The Kremlin and Russian media sources frequently label Ukraine as a mafia state, a state run by Nazis – despite Zelensky being Jewish – and claim that the country of Ukraine has no right to exist.
Sanctions Backfired
Cummings then claimed that Western sanctions against Russia had backfired against the West and that they had only pushed Russia into closer allegiance with China.
“Disaster for European Politics”
Cummings stated, “Cost-of-living has been a massive shock, [the] sanctions regime has been much more of a disaster for European politics than it has been for Russian politics.”
Manufacturing Alliance
Cummings claimed that, rather than hurting Russia, all the sanctions had been done to push Russia “into an alliance with the world’s biggest manufacturing power.”
“Loads of Money”
He continued, “They [Ukraine’s backers] said ‘Oh China will support us’. I said then ‘no China will not, China’s going to make loads of money by supplying Russia’.”
Critical of Ukraine
Cummings, unlike Boris Johnson, who became a hero to Ukrainians for his unwavering support of their country during his time as Prime Minister, has been critical of Western support for Ukraine since the war began.
Doubling Down
Cummings went on to double down on his criticism, stating that the West had encouraged Putin instead of forcing him to either cease his illegal war against Ukraine or come to the negotiating table.
“What Lesson?”
Cummings asked, “What lesson have we taught him? The lesson we’ve taught Putin is that we’re a bunch of total [expletive] jokers.”
“What a Bunch of Clowns We Are”
He continued, “I mean Putin already knew that before the war, but this has emphasised it and broadcast it to the entire world what a bunch of clowns we are and America now is doubling down on trying to seize Russian assets so it’s already created a sanctions regime which is encouraging the building of alternative financial systems globally… That’s not teaching Putin any lesson, only that we’re idiots.”
Bodies Piling Up
Whilst Cummings focused only on his narrow view of the conflict and what that might mean for any potential political party he might form, the bodies are still piling up in Ukraine as Russia continues to bombard civilian areas and infrastructure in its attempts to wear down Ukrainian resolve.
30,457 Civilian Casualties
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified a total of 30,457 civilian casualties in Ukraine so far. However, this comes with a caveat that the actual figure is likely significantly higher.
“As Long as It Takes”
Despite Cummings’ protestations, Western support for Ukraine remains strong. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron recently announced £3 billion in annual support for the beleaguered nation for “as long as it takes.”
Faux Pas
Cameron also raised some eyebrows, even amongst the leaders of other staunch supporters of Ukraine, by recently arguing that Ukraine could use British-supplied weapons to strike at targets inside Russia, which until recently had been something of a faux pas for Western nations.
“Ukraine Has That Right”
Cameron stated, “Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself.”
Testing the Waters
Despite Cameron’s support, Cummings’s critique of Western support for Ukraine likely has less to do with genuine, heartfelt feelings about the conflict and more with him testing the waters for his political ambitions.
Ringing Hollow
For a man who worked so closely with the Conservative government, his sudden worry about the cost of living crisis after three years of silence rings a little hollow to many. It may have more to do with his wish to form a political party to take on his old employers.
“Ruthlessly Focused”
Whether his gambit works and he is able to form a party that he claimed would be “ruthlessly focused on the voters, not on Westminster and the old media” remains to be seen.
The post Former Johnson Adviser Cummings Condemns Western Backing of Ukraine first appeared on Swift Feed.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alexey Fedorenko.