News reports coming out now and after over a month since Boris Johnson and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelenskiy meeting in war-hit Kiev say that the UK PM had suggested Ukraine joined Britain and other like-minded nations in a new alliance “as an alternative to the EU”. 

Johnson made this suggestion during his surprise April 9 visit to Kiev. 

This could be seen by Brussels as an attempt to sabotage the EU itself even as Western Europe put on a face of unity against Russia who invaded it’s neighbor three months ago.

According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, which broke the story, Johnson foresees fashioning a “European Commonwealth” whose objectives will include countering the “military threat from Moscow”.

Unconfirmed reports say besieged Zelenskiy, who has repeatedly asked to join the EU, is waiting for the economic bloc’s July 23 summit when member states are expected to decide on granting Ukraine candidate status before he formally responds to Mr Johnson. This could be his way to pressure the EU into letting Ukraine in.