Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has hit out at the “delay” and “timidity” in helping Ukraine after travelling through the country unprotected during a 72-hour trip for a documentary.

The former prime minister travelled beyond the capital Kyiv to the so-called kill zone near the city of Zaporizhzhia where he witnessed first-hand the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The 61-year-old said Ukraine can and will win the war, but that “we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges” to the country.

Johnson said: “The Ukrainians are fighting the same war against the same drones that are being sent against civilians by the same alliance of tyrannies.”

“We have spent four years psalming platitudes and telling them that their fight is our fight.”

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Boris Johnson’s rise to power and what led to his downfall as UK prime minister

Boris Johnson’s rise to power and what led to his downfall as UK prime minister

“On the basis of what I have seen, we are risibly failing to live up to our pledges, and to give them the help they need.”