Boris Johnson's Surprise Visit to Kyiv — 9 April 2022

Dear Prime Minister's Office,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request more details on Boris’s briefing notes going into the unannounced 9 April 2022 trip.

I would be grateful if you could provide me with the following information:

• All briefing notes prepared for Mr Johnson in advance of the trip
• All meeting notes and transcripts of speeches made by Mr Johnson while he was abroad
• Any other relevant information that you may have

I understand that you may not be able to provide me with all of the information that I have requested, but I would be grateful for any information that you can provide.

Yours faithfully,
Se Taylor

Dear Prime Minister's Office,
Thank you for your response to my previous request.

To clarify, I am requesting the following information:

• The transcript of the speeches and briefing notes prepared in advance of Boris Johnson's visit to Kyiv on April 9th, 2022 — for the trip.
• All meeting notes and transcripts of speeches made by Mr. Johnson while he was in Ukraine on April 9th, 2022, including his meeting with President Zelenskyy.

I understand that my previous request for any other relevant information was quite broad, so I have removed that from this request.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Se Taylor

Dear Prime Minister's Office,
Thank you greatly. This is very much appreciated. I shall wait and look forward to your reply on 8 December. Thank you for all of your help.

Yours sincerely,
Se Taylor

(ref: FOI2023/11553)
Dear Cabinet Office team,

I’m following up on a request I originally made on 9 October 2023 – Boris Johnson’s Surprise Visit to Kyiv – 9 April 2022.
I have made a reasonable request for briefing and meeting notes made before and during the then-Prime Minister’s trip to Kyiv.

An answer for my request was delayed on 9 November 2023, and stated a new return date of 5 December 2023. (The website here now notes “By law, the Prime Minister’s Office should have responded promptly and by 1 December 2023”.) I have not yet received a response.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 states that I ought to have received a response.
I kindly request a reply with the requested records in the next 48 hours.

Yours sincerely,
Se Taylor

Dear Prime Minister's Office,

Thank you for your 8 December 2023 reply.
Link to the request page, for your convenience: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/b...

You have stated “we have established that the information you requested is held by the Cabinet Office”.

The UK government provided £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine in 2022 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...). The UK government also sent £1.5 billion in humanitarian and economic support.
I consider, thus, there is a great public interest case to be made for the information requested to be made public.

Taking points from your latest reply in reverse order:
- Section 40: personal data of third parties.
> I assert that this is not relevant, and that I am not asking for any such information.

- Section 35(1)(a) of the FOIA: a qualified exemption that applies to information relating to the prevention or detection of crime.
> This also does not seem relevant to my request.

- Section 27(2): protecting information obtained in confidence from other states.
> I appreciate that the UK and other governments were in close contact regarding Ukraine in early April 2022. To be expressly clear: I am not asking for any information shared from Ukraine. Just the then-Prime Minister’s own preparatory meeting notes for his 9 April 2022 trip – prepared by his own 10 Downing Street aides. Whatever sensitive information was obtained from other states, please redact.

- Section 27(1)(a) of the FOIA: a qualified exemption that protects information that would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the UK and other states. This exemption aims to ensure that the UK can maintain positive diplomatic relationships and that sensitive information is not disclosed.
> I wish to note that it is stated on the UK Government’s website (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-ca...
“The Prime Minister updated on his visit to Kyiv last month and shared his conviction that Ukraine would win, supported with the right level of defensive military assistance. He urged against any negotiations with Russia on terms that gave credence to the Kremlin’s false narrative for the invasion, but stressed that this was a decision for the Ukrainian government.”
My request for information is not for anything that has not already been stated publicly – and already shared with close international partners. I am simply asking for the preparatory notes that outlined such communication.

- Section 26 of the FOIA: a qualified exemption that applies to information related to the defence of the British Islands or the capability, effectiveness, or security of the armed forces.
> In April 2022, the defence of the British Islands was not in question. British troops were reportedly training Ukrainian soldiers. Anything in the documents I have requested that refers to British troops, please redact.

- Section 24(1) of the FOIA deals with safeguarding national security.
> In April 2022, Britain’s own national security was not at risk. Further: Ukraine is not a NATO ally. I do not consider this credible use of Section 24.

- Section 23(1) of the FOIA.
> I am not requesting information from intelligence agencies. I am precisely asking for 10 Downing Street preparatory meeting documents – prepared by the Prime Minister’s private office.

As noted in a 2009 Ministry of Defence FOI guidance note (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...) “The provision of the Public Interest Test recognises that, although a particular interest may sometimes be harmed by disclosure (and is therefore protected by an exemption or exception), when other, broader, factors are taken into consideration, the greater public interest is served by release. Although the Public Interest Test compares the public interests for and against disclosure - the scales start weighed in favour of disclosing the information.”

The amount of taxpayer money that has been sent to Ukraine, conditions are such that the information I have requested is in the public interest. The Sections you have stated – which potentially do warrant minor redaction – do not discount the balance in favour of disclosure.

Please can you revise your assessment, and in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, release the information that you have stated you have in your possession?
A reply to my initial request was delayed. On 9 November 2023, the Cabinet Office FOI Team delayed their reply from the original deadline of 9 November 2023, to 5 December 2023. (And then to 8 December 2023.) I request a reply with the information requested, within the stated 20 working days, without further delay.

Thank you,
Se Taylor

Dear Prime Minister's Office,

Thank you, that’s very much appreciated.
Just with the holiday period, would it be possible to confirm a target reply date – of course, allowing for the accounting of the holiday period?

Thank you.
Se Taylor

Ref: IR2023/14867
Dear Cabinet Office team,

Would it please be possible to get an update?
The above-stated deadline for reply was yesterday, 8th January 2024.
Thank you greatly,

Se Taylor

Ref: IR2023/14867
Dear Cabinet Office team,

The date given to expect a return for my request for an internal review was 8 January, 2024. It’s now almost a month overdue.
Could I please get an update?

Sincerely,
Se Taylor

Dear FOI Team Mailbox,

Following recent media interviews, there is an overwhelming and undeniable public interest case for these documents.
You are well over a month overdue in reply, in violation of Section 10(1) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Please can you write to us today with a date by which you will have your formal next reply together.

Yours sincerely,
Se Taylor

Just to expand: the former Prime Minister was quoted in The Times, three weeks ago (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-i...

‘In private Johnson had another message for Zelensky. Less than two weeks had elapsed since the Istanbul talks and, despite the outrage in Bucha, the two negotiating teams still pursued contacts via Zoom. “I was a bit worried at that stage,” Johnson recalled. “I could not see for the life of me what the deal could be, and I thought that any deal with Putin was going to be pretty sordid. Any deal would be some victory for him: if you give him anything he’ll just keep it, bank it, and then prepare for his next assault.”

‘As the British prime minister sat down with Zelensky, he delivered his pitch. “It is not for me to tell you what your war objectives can be, but as far as I am concerned Putin must fail and Ukraine must be entitled to retain full sovereignty and independence,” he recalled saying. “We’re not directly fighting, you are. It’s the Ukrainians who are fighting and dying. But we would back Ukraine a thousand per cent.”’

*

I just wish to obtain the documents from the time that confirm this – which you have acknowledged you have in your possession.

I am well aware: many Ukrainians wanted to fight on, and Zelensky would have had an incredibly tall order to make any negotiated outcome palatable to his own team and the Ukrainian people. What happened is clearly far more nuanced than ‘Boris torpedoed a deal’.

But there is now an overwhelming public interest case for these documents.

Thank you.

* https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-i...

Dear FOI team,
Please can I get a clear date for your formal reply?
Se Taylor

Ref: IR2023/14867

Dear Cabinet Office team,

Section 10 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 notes:

“A public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt.”

You are now 41 days past your own set due date (8 January, 2024).

Please can you this week provide a clear date for your reply?

Thank you,

Se Taylor

Please can you provide a date?