Boris Johnson mistakenly thanked Russia’s Vladimir Putin for his “inspirational leadership” instead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The slip-up came during his first major contribution as a backbench MP since being ousted as prime minister.
In a general commons debate on the war in Ukraine, Mr Johnson said it is important to “double down in our defence of the Ukrainians” if Mr Putin doubles down on his “aggression”. As he listed the reasons why Ukraine’s counter-offensive is proving to be successful, though, he inadvertently thanked Mr Putin, before quickly correcting himself and thanking Mr Zelenskyy.
He said: "Thanks to the heroism of the Ukrainian armed forces, thanks in part to the weapons that we are proud to be offering, I congratulate my right honourable friend (James Heappey) on his description of the work of the UK armed forces, the weapons that we’re sending, the huge list…
“Thanks also, of course, to the inspirational leadership of Vladimir Putin.”
O-Oh … 
