Boris Johnson’s spokesman said on Monday that the British Prime Minister did not directly equate the crisis in Ukraine to Brexit and that he will not recant remarks made during a speech on Saturday that received criticism.

Johnson said on Saturday that British people, like Ukrainians, had a natural desire to choose freedom over security, using the vote to exit the European Union as an example.

“No direct analogy was made between the war in Ukraine [and Brexit]… they’re not directly equivalent.” “He was observing people’s thirst for liberty,” the official explained.

Johnson does not regret his language, according to the spokesman, and will not reverse his statement.