Ben Wallace announcement TODAY as MoD panics over UK soldiers heading to fight Putin | Politics | News
Leonard T. Koonce
4 min read
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After 14 days, Ukraine estimates that there have been up to 11,000 casualties among Russian soldiers and a lot of military equipment has been destroyed. The minister said Moscow’s “arrogance” saw its slow failure to gain control of the country and that the Kremlin lacked “the moral component often necessary for victory”.
“Of Russia’s initial goals, I can report to the House, we believe they only succeeded in achieving one,” Mr Wallace told MPs this afternoon.
“The Ukrainian armed forces have put up a solid defense while mobilizing the entire population.
“President Putin’s arrogant assumption that he would be welcomed as a liberator has rightly crumbled as quickly as the morale of his troops.”
He said Russian forces controlled a number of towns in southern Ukraine, but had yet to take control of key towns in the north and were still struggling to achieve “total air dominance” in the skies.
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Ben Wallace said Russia had only achieved one of its goals (Image: PARLIAMENT.TV)
The Defense Secretary hailed the strength shown by the Ukrainian people, promising Britain would continue to help in any way possible.
The United Kingdom provides defensive and lethal aid to the country in order to face the power of the Red Army.
Outlining the extent of British cooperation for the first time today, Mr Wallace said the UK had now supplied 3,615 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, would soon supply a small batch of Javelin anti-tank missiles and was considering send Starstreak high-speed manned man-portable anti-aircraft missiles.
He told MPs: “On January 17, I announced in the House the government’s intention to provide military assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“The initial supply was to be 2,000 new light anti-tank weapons, smaller weapons and ammunition.
“In response to further acts of aggression from Russia, we have now increased this supply.
Defense Secretary praised Ukraine’s battle against Russia (Image: PARLIAMENT.TV)
He described the support the UK was offering to Ukraine (Image: PARLIAMENT.TV)
“I can update the Chamber as of today, we will have delivered 3,615 NLAWs (anti-tank missiles) and will continue to deliver more.
“We will soon begin delivery of small shipments of Javelin anti-tank missiles as well.”
While praising the resistance shown by Ukraine so far, the minister gravely warned that attacks on cities like Kyv were likely to worsen in the coming days.
He admitted that Putin’s military campaign would “become more brutal and indiscriminate.”
So far, around 1,000 Ukrainians have died in the struggle for the country’s future.
“We must draw strength from people across Europe who stand side by side to protect our values, our freedom, our tolerance, our democracy and our free press,” Wallace added defiantly.
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Putin’s ‘arrogant’ assumption that he would be welcome in Ukraine is crumbling, minister says (Picture: PA)
As Britain continues to lead the way in arming Ukrainians fighting on the front line, the government fears that British troops will want to go personally to Eastern Europe to defend the country against Russian onslaught. .
It comes after two weeks ago Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she would support Britons fighting in Ukraine.
However, despite his comments, British soldiers will break the law if they travel to Ukraine to fight.
A 19-year-old in the Queen’s Guard is believed to have left his post to fight in Eastern Europe.
Three other soldiers also left, fearing to fight for Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense is currently scrambling to try to locate those they fear may be ready to go overseas.
Speaking on ITV This Morning, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned Britons keen to get to the front line they would create a ‘dangerous situation’.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “You can’t go and fight if you’re in the British army, you can’t just get up and go and fight.
Liz Truss had said she would support anyone who traveled to Ukraine (Picture: PA)
“Of course, this is inappropriate behavior and one would expect the military to have very, very strict rules in place, as they do.”
Asked what Russia might do if a British soldier was captured or killed, he added: “There’s a big difference between Britain sending in their army and some people breaking our law and going to do it.
“But, clearly, it’s a dangerous situation.
“And clearly we want to make sure that the assistance we provide is done in an official way – like the anti-tank missiles we provided before and during this conflict, and like the 22,000 Ukrainians we trained.”
Last night a Defense Ministry spokesman warned that all military personnel were banned from traveling to Ukraine.
He said: “This applies whether the service person is on leave or not.
“Staff traveling to Ukraine will face disciplinary and administrative consequences.”
