Boris Johnson warns against ‘crazy’ Putin move as he breaks silence

Boris Johnson has warned Vladimir Putin against using a tactical nuclear weapon in his Ukraine invasion. The former Prime Minister, who left office in September, said the Russian President would be “crazy to do so”.There have been fears Mr Putin could launch such an attack as his troops are forced back in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance.But Mr Johnson said he did not think the Russian leader would use a tactical nuclear weapon, which are smaller and designed for use on the battlefield or for a limited strike.He told Sky News: “There’s a lot of willingness to give Putin the benefit of the doubt. That will go, the minute he does anything like that.”He would also crucially lose the patronage of the Chinese. And in his own country, I think he would trigger an absolutely hysterical reaction.” Boris Johnson warned Vladimir Putin against using a tactical nuclear weapon in his Ukraine invasion (Image: GETTY)Mr Johnson said there would have to be some kind of response by the West to such an attack.But he added that he believes it is “very, very, very, very unlikely that it will come to that”.The ex-PM also said it was “absolutely inevitable” that the Ukrainians will go on to win the war.It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace branded Mr Putin’s invasion as “spectacularly unsuccessful” during an appearance before the Lords Defence and International Relations Committee earlier today.Mr Wallace said Russia is “losing” the war with troops suffering from “very low morale” as Ukraine continues its fierce counter-offensive in the south and east. Ben Wallace said Mr Putin’s invasion was ‘spectacularly unsuccessful’ (Image: PARLIAMENT TV)He said: “If you stop the clock now Putin is losing. Ukraine maintains the momentum, it is continuing to take land back from Russian occupation, it is inflicting significant harm on the Russian army and air force.”The direction of travel is that I think it is likely that by the end of this month the northern part of Kherson will be depleted of Russians or the Russians will have left that part, which brings into range parts of Crimea from long-range artillery that the Ukrainians held or the HIMARS-type systems.”And in the east Ukraine made significant advances a few weeks ago and they continue to push and press on the Russian forces who are suffering poor resupply, running out of complex weapons significantly and very low morale, desertions, people being mobilised and within days being sent to the frontline, many of whom are dying, no food, no socks, no basic equipment, rusty guns.”It is in a sense criminal that their generals have sent them to war that way. So the momentum is with Ukraine.”Mr Wallace said he expects Ukrainian forces to continue their counter-offensive despite a freezing winter looming.The Defence Secretary said: “We have always said we wish to support and help Ukraine to defend their sovereign nation and that Putin should fail in Ukraine and that it is for Ukraine to decide from a position of strength when it wishes to negotiate or what it wishes to negotiate.”I think that is important that it is Ukraine’s choice, it’s not ours, we shouldn’t be pulling strings on Ukraine and they are in a current position of strength.”How far they wish to push that is entirely up to them and we will stand by them as does the international community.”The future obviously we have the winter coming up, I don’t actually expect the Ukrainians to stop in the winter, these are hardy soldiers and that is their part of the world and I don’t think they’ll just stop, they’ll continue to press.”And of course the Ukrainians are now better equipped than the Russians in many areas so I think the war will go on. The question then becomes the race for resupply.”Mr Wallace added: “Putin’s ambition to occupy the whole of Ukraine hasn’t depleted, it’s just spectacularly unsuccessful, but that hasn’t gone away.”