LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine): After Russia gathered roughly 100,000 troops on its border, Ukraine is being armed with short-range anti-tank missiles from Britain for self-defence purposes, according to the defence secretary.
A smaller group of British troops will also be dispatched to Ukraine to give training, according to Ben Wallace.
He expressed “legitimate and real cause for concern” that Russian soldiers could be deployed in an invasion. Russia, however, denied any plans of invasion and accused the United States of aggression.
Since 2015, dozens of British troops have been stationed in Ukraine to assist in the training of the country’s armed forces, and the UK has also pledged to assist in rebuilding the Ukrainian navy after Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.
On Monday, the first shipment of light anti-armour weapons was delivered, even though the defence secretary didn’t identify which type.
He told the MPs that Ukraine had every right to defend its borders, and that the latest package of support would help it in doing so more efficiently.
“Let me be clear: this support is for short-range and clearly defensive weapon capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia; they are to be used in self-defence.”
If Russia takes any “destabilising action” in Ukraine, he said, “a package of international sanctions is ready to go.”
According to the defence secretary, any invasion would be considered a “occupation” that may result in a massive loss of life for all parties involved.
He stated that they hoped to maintain their friendship with the people of Russia, as they had for hundreds of years. And there was a world where they could have a positive relationship with Russia.
“I still remain hopeful that diplomacy will prevail. It is President Putin’s choice whether to choose diplomacy and dialogue, or conflict and the consequences.”
The Ambassador of Ukraine praised Britain’s decision to supply weaponry and additional troops, but told the BBC that the major issue was that Ukraine was not a Nato member.
Vadym Prystaiko said that they had wanted to be in Nato… they were battling Europe’s largest army by themselves.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed rebels and the Ukraine’s military has raged since 2014, despite a weak ceasefire.
After Russian soldiers gathered on the border, Western and Ukrainian security services have indicated that an attack or invasion could occur in early 2022.
Conversely, Russia has accused Nato members of “pumping” arms into Ukraine and has claimed that the US is inflaming regional tensions.
Its key demand is that Nato not expand eastward, with Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Foreign Minister declaring following recent negotiations that “absolutely mandatory to ensure that Ukraine never, ever becomes a member of Nato”.
