Boris Johnson has claimed that Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if she were a woman and believes the war is a “perfect example of toxic masculinity.”
In an interview with German media after the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau, the prime minister cited the gender of the Russian president as a factor that contributed to the conflict.
Johnson told ZDF: “If Putin were a woman, which she obviously isn’t, if she were, I really don’t think she would have embarked on a crazy, chauvinistic war of invasion and violence the way he has done it.
“If you want a perfect example of toxic masculinity, that’s what you’re doing in Ukraine.”
It comes after Western leaders ended the three-day G7 summit in southern Germany by promising to raise economic and political costs for Putin and his regime from the Russian war in Ukraine.
Since then, Johnson has traveled to Madrid for a NATO summit with Secretary of State Liz Truss.
The British military presence in Estonia will be strengthened as NATO dramatically increases its ability to respond to Russia. The leaders of the 30-member alliance will agree to cooperate more closely and significantly increase the number of troops remaining in high readiness.
The United Kingdom already has a significant military presence in Estonia and the Prime Minister will take advantage of the meeting to expand its headquarters in the Baltic nation.
Officials said it would ensure the UK could provide rapid reinforcements if needed and deploy artillery, air defense and helicopters.
The alliance plans to have 300,000 soldiers in high readiness, up from the current 40,000, and the UK will commit land, air and sea capabilities to the “new force model”.