Boris Johnson’s departure greeted by world leaders with a gamut of emotions

Boris Johnson’s decision on Thursday to step down has drawn a spectrum of reaction worldwide.

Volodymyr Zelensky telephoned Boris Johnson to express his ‘sadness’ at the news of his departure. Picture: AFP

Boris Johnson’s decision on Thursday to step down has drawn a spectrum of reaction from leaders worldwide.

After years of tense relations with Britain, the EU saw hope of improved ties following the resignation of Brexit champion Mr Johnson, though wariness lingered.

While the European Commission publicly dodged commenting about the political upheaval in the UK, others in Brussels’ orbit let loose.

“The departure of Boris Johnson opens a new page in relations with Britain,” Michel Barnier, the former top EU negotiator for Brexit, tweeted. “May it be more constructive, more respectful of commitments made, in particular regarding peace and stability in Northern Ireland, and more friendly with partners in the EU. Because there’s so much more to be done together.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky telephoned Mr Johnson to express his “sadness”, Kyiv said.

“We all welcome this news with sadness. Not only me, but also all of Ukrainian society which sympathises with you a lot,” the presidency quoted Mr Zelensky as saying, reiterating how grateful Ukrainians were for the British prime minister’s support since the Russian invasion.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Mr Johnson’s decision to step down was “an opportunity” to reset fraught relations.

Mr Martin added ties between Dublin and London had been “strained and challenged in recent times”, not least because of clashes over special post-Brexit trade arrangements in British-run Northern Ireland.

“We have now an opportunity to return to the true spirit of partnership and mutual respect that is needed to underpin the gains of the Good Friday Agreement,” Mr Martin said.

The 1998 peace accords ended decades of bloodshed over British rule in Northern Ireland but has been increasingly strained by Brexit.

The Kremlin said it hoped “more professional people” would come to power in Britain.

“We would like to hope that some day in Great Britain more professional people who can make decisions through dialogue will come to power,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “But at the moment there is little hope for that.”

AFP