Ukrainian refugees face being sent to Rwanda if they travel to the UK without permission, Boris Johnson said in an escalation of government plans to deport those traveling across the Channel seeking refuge.
During a visit to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, the prime minister also urged NATO and G7 countries not to settle for “bad peace” in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, saying this would lead to a climbing Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
Earlier, Johnson had said that the possibility of sending Ukrainian refugees to Rwanda under the controversial government scheme presented in April “simply will not happen.”
But asked at the Commonwealth (Chogm) meeting of heads of government whether Ukrainians arriving by boat could face deportation to East Africa, he said: “The only circumstances in which people will be sent to Rwanda it would be if they came to the UK illegally and thus undermine the safe and legal avenues we have.I think we are giving 130,000 visas to Ukrainians and they have at least two very good routes to come to this country.
“But if you come here illegally, you are undermining everyone who comes here legally. And it’s crazy. So I’m afraid the answer is, I guess so, that in theory it could happen. But I think it’s very unlikely. ”
Johnson’s statements were:
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Politicians from 11 European countries condemned the Rwanda-UK scheme. But it emerged that Johnson did not raise human rights abuses when he met with the country’s president, Paul Kagame, on Thursday, despite previous indications that he would.
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Prior to a meeting with Prince Charles on Friday, Johnson was optimistic that he would defend politics after the heir to the throne called it “horrible,” but sources in Downing Street and Clarence House suggested the issue should not would be raised.
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The Rwandan government has confirmed that it has already received £ 120 million from the UK government to house asylum seekers who have not yet arrived and some of the money has been spent.
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The Prime Minister pledged £ 372 million in aid to help countries struggling with rising food prices.
Critics of the government’s response to the Ukrainian war have noted that the UK hosts fewer Ukrainians per capita than most of Europe.
Enver Solomon, executive director of the Refugee Council, said: “In contrast to the British public that has opened its doors to welcome Ukrainians in the desperate search for security, our Prime Minister has confirmed that the government intends to treat them as human cargo. be transported from the United Kingdom to Rwanda. “
In comments made days before he joined G7 leaders in Germany, and then NATO in Spain, Johnson also warned that the “tiredness of Ukraine” could have settled in some of the major western powers.
“My message to G7 and NATO colleagues in particular will be, ‘Now is not the time to settle down and encourage Ukrainians to settle for a bad peace, a peace for which’ He invites them to give up pieces of their territory in exchange for a ceasefire. I think it would be a disaster. It would be a trigger for a new escalation of Putin whenever he wanted, “he said.
The Kigali government has confirmed that it has started spending the initial £ 120 million payment on the asylum plan, which was signed as part of a joint deal in April.
Rwanda government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said: “Because it was intended to prepare all the accommodation and all the other institutions to strengthen the processes, so it has been done.”
Pressed if something had already been spent, she said, “Partly because we had to prepare and we were ready to receive the first migrants on the 14th.”
Johnson promised to start sending thousands of asylum seekers 4,000 miles away in May after deepening concerns about the growing number of small boats carrying asylum seekers across the Canal.
Earlier this month, the inaugural flight was abandoned after a dramatic 11-hour ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Amid claims that Charles might raise migrant policy at his meeting, Johnson was optimistic when asked how he would respond. During an interview with Kigali school broadcasters, the prime minister said, “People need to keep an open mind about politics, critics need to keep an open mind about politics. Many people can see its merits. so yes, of course, if I see the prince tomorrow, I will.
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Hours later, both Downing Street and Clarence House downplayed the possibility of a crash. Sources on both sides said they would not raise the issue when they meet.
Members of the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly, from countries such as Armenia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy and Turkey, lined up to condemn the UK on Thursday for its conduct on Rwanda.
German Frank Schwabe said: “Rwanda cannot be a partner in any kind of migration agreement. It is very worrying that the UK is prepared to damage respect. [the ECHR) because of a single decision it doesn’t like. The bill [of rights] it will create an acceptable class of human rights abuses. “
He added: “You are part of questioning and ultimately destroying this organization and its values. Leave it alone.”