Boris Johnson: Former PM and ‘great friend of Ukraine’ awarded honorary degree in Lviv
Boris Johnson has travelled to Ukraine to receive an honorary degree.
The former prime minister was awarded Doctor Honoris Causa of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, which translates as “for the sake of the honour”.
It’s typically a doctorate or, less commonly, a master’s degree, and may be awarded to someone who has no prior connection with the awarding academic institution.
He was pictured putting on a cloak and hat for the ceremony, and he also went to the Yalta European Strategy forum.
In a video posted on Volodomyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel, Mr Johnson was seen listening to the Ukraine leader’s speech alongside Michael McFaul, the former US ambassador to Russia, on Friday.
Mr McFaul leads an international working group on sanctions against Moscow together with Mr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
Mr Zelenskyy said in his speech that “for many in the world, Ukraine is not just a country in Europe that is defending itself against Russian aggression”.
His country has become, he said, “a personal moral choice” and a symbol of “a standard of freedom in which people from different countries recognise their own standards”.
Mr Johnson, who is no longer an MP after resigning earlier this year, was in 10 Downing Street when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year.
He was a staunch supporter of Kyiv as prime minister and has often visited the country both before and after stepping down in July 2022.
The former Tory leader was welcomed by the Mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, as “a great friend of Ukraine”, when he arrived, Ukrinform said.
Mr Sadovyi published photos of his meeting with Johnson at the railway station and wrote: “Welcome to Lviv, a great friend of Ukraine Boris Johnson.”
In May, Mr Johnson published a video thanking the university for the award and promising to come to Lviv to collect it.