Speaking ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Mr Johnson told the BBC that these troops should be stationed in peaceful regions
Ukraine has been grappling with Crimean nationalists since '91.
In 1995 the Ukrainian Parliament intervened in the political crisis in Crimea, scrapping the Crimean Constitution, removing the president and scrapping the office of President.[67] Almost 4,000 Ukrainian soldiers and police officers were sent to Crimea.[68] Meshkov was removed from power[69] after Ukrainian special forces had entered his residence, disarmed his bodyguards and put him on a plane to Moscow.[70] Meshkov was replaced by Kyiv-appointed Anatoliy Franchuk, with the intent to rein in Crimean aspirations of autonomy.
The war started in 2014 with occupation of Crimea and Luhansk/Donetsk.
Goes back farther than that.
Ukraine has been grappling with Crimean nationalists since '91.
There’s a certain irony to it