'The Kremlin will be delighted': Boris blasts 'appalling' Miliband pick as Foreign Sec after he backed out of Syria action

Published: 22:21, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 22:28, 21 July 2026 The Kremlin will be 'delighted' at Ed Miliband's appointment to Foreign Secretary because his actions helped Putin invade Ukraine, Boris Johnson has warned. The former prime minister on Tuesday slammed Mr Miliband as 'an appalling choice' after Andy Burnham elevated the energy secretary to the great office of state - despite him blocking British military action against Syria as Labour leader, which ultimately emboldened Putin to invade Crimea. Sharing an article on X titled 'there's no worse choice for Foreign Secretary than Ed Miliband' Mr Johnson wrote: 'This is spot on. The failure to stand up to Assad – for which Miliband bears much guilt – led directly to Putin's first invasion of Ukraine. 'An appalling choice for foreign secretary. The Kremlin will be delighted.' Mr Miliband's appointment reignites a row over his resisting British military action in 2013 against Assad for using chemical weapons against his own people. The then Labour leader ordered his MPs to vote against David Cameron's plans to join the US in destroying Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons, which had been used to murder at least 1,400 innocent civilians. Britain's inaction subsequently derailed Barack Obama's plan to intervene in Syria, with the US administration holding Parliament responsible. Mr Miliband was later accused of emboldening Russia to annex Crimea a year later through his work in the Commons. The Kremlin will be 'delighted' at Ed Miliband's appointment to Foreign Secretary because his actions helped Putin invade Ukraine, Boris Johnson has warned Mr Miliband's appointment reignites a row over his resisting British military action in 2013 against Assad for using chemical weapons against his own people Mr Miliband was accused of emboldening Russia to annex Crimea a year later through his work in the Commons And his actions even drew criticism from his own colleagues, with Wes Streeting, now Defence Secretary, saying two years ago that 'the hesitation of this country and the United States created a vacuum that Russia moved into and kept Assad in power for much longer'. Mr Streeting later claimed: 'I did not criticise Ed', but 'pointed out the challenges of hindsight'. But Charles Lister, a Middle East expert based in Washington, said on Tuesday that 'Miliband's central role in nixing UK (& thus, US) response to chemical weapons use in Syria had huge global impacts'. 'Russia spurred on to invade Ukraine - triggered the Syria refugee crisis... which fuelled far-right populism...Brexit etc.' And White House insiders have now voiced concern over Mr Milband's appointment. According to The Telegraph, a senior Trump administration official predicted Mr Miliband would be a 'point of friction' in Britain's relationship with the US due to his slavish devotion to net-zero. Mr Miliband also led the opposition on the National Security Council to the use of UK bases for US bombers, leading Keir Starmer to block a US request to use Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands at the beginning of its war against Iran. And close Trump ally Steve Bannon said that the Trump administration had warned Mr Burnham that the US 'would view the appointment of 'red diaper' baby and self-described socialist Ed Miliband as very injurious to the 'special relationship'. He added: 'Burnham could not care less – he appointed this twit anyway.' Another Senior Trump official told The Sun Mr Miliband's appointment to Foreign Secretary was 'inauspicious' but they are 'relieved he's not Chancellor'. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said of Mr Miliband on Tuesday night: 'This is a man who branded President Trump a 'racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper', then airily waved his own words away as 'irrelevant' when he was confronted with them. 'It is little wonder the White House is already said to be concerned. On his very first day Ed Miliband has made the special relationship harder to manage, not stronger. 'His first act should be to commit to putting the shameful Chagos Surrender on the ash heap of history. The Conservatives wish him well, but we do so more in hope than expectation.' Emerging from No 10 on Monday, Mr Miliband vowed to carry the 'spirit' of his parents – who fled to Britain to escape the Nazis – into the role. He said: 'For them Britain provided sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the fight against fascism. At a time when values of democracy, the rule of law and freedom are under threat like never before, I will carry that spirit, their spirit, into my work as Foreign Secretary.' An FCDO Spokesperson said: 'The Foreign Secretary has been appointed by the Prime Minister to lead the Government's work in defending Britain's interests and values in an increasingly dangerous world. 'Already in his first full day, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart to underline the Government's commitment to the people of Ukraine and has flown to Manila to meet key strategic allies.'