Russia threatens to invade; Confirmation of UK arms supply to Ukraine
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has said that his country is supplying anti-tank missiles to Ukraine due to fears of a Russian attack.
According to the foreign news agency, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has told the parliamentarians that the legitimate and real reason for the concern of other countries including Britain is that Russia could send troops to Ukraine.
Following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014, Britain began providing defense assistance to Ukraine.
Dozens of British troops have been stationed in Ukraine since 2015, training the Ukrainian army.
Ben Wallace said Britain would provide additional security assistance to Ukraine in light of Russia's increasingly threatening behavior.
Britain provided light anti-tank weapons to Ukraine two days ago, but did not provide details.
The British defense secretary said Ukraine had every right to defend its borders and that the new aid package would further enhance its ability to do so.
Ben Wallace added that the weapons provided to Ukraine are for short-range strikes and conventional defense, are not a strategic weapon and do not appear to be a major threat to Russia because Ukraine will use them only for its own defense.
The British defense secretary said that if Russia took any action against Ukraine, all preparations for international sanctions against it were complete.
Ben Wallace added that if Russia invaded Ukraine, it would be seen as an attempt at illegal occupation and could cause significant casualties on both sides.
"I am still hopeful that the solution to this problem is diplomacy, but now it is up to Russian President Putin to choose between diplomacy and dialogue or conflict and outcome," he said.
The United Kingdom has said it is providing Ukraine with short-range anti-tank missiles to defend itself.
The statement from Defense Minister Ben Wallace came at a time when Russia has deployed about 100,000 troops on the border with Ukraine.
The British defense secretary says there is a "legitimate and real concern" that Russian troops could be used in the attack.
Russia has denied any involvement in the attack, accusing the West of aggression.
Dozens of British troops have been stationed in Ukraine since 2015 to train Ukraine's armed forces, and Britain has promised to rebuild the Ukrainian navy following Russia's invasion of Crimea in 2014.
Ben Wallace said Britain would provide additional security assistance in light of Russia's "increasingly dangerous behavior".
The first consignment of light armor was sent on Monday, but the defense minister did not say what type it was.
He told lawmakers,''Ukraine has every right to protect its borders and this new aid package will further enhance its ability to do so.''
He said,''I want to make it clear that this assistance is for short-range and full defense capabilities.'' These are not strategic weapons and are not a threat to Russia. It's for self-defense. "
He added that a "package of international sanctions" was ready if Russia took any steps to "destabilize" Ukraine.
The defense minister said any attack would be seen as an "occupation" that could lead to "massive casualties on both sides."
He said,''We want friendship with the Russian people, as we have for hundreds of years.'' And we can build mutually beneficial relations with Russia in a number of areas. "
"I still hope that democracy will prevail. It is up to President Putin to choose between diplomacy and dialogue, or conflict and outcome. "
The conflict between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian military has been raging in eastern Ukraine since 2014, but a weak ceasefire has been in place.
Western and Ukrainian intelligence services estimate that the incursion or attack could take place in early 2022, after Russian troops have gathered on the border.
Russia, meanwhile, has accused NATO nations of "provoking" Ukraine with weapons, saying the United States was promoting tensions in the region.
Russia's main demand is for NATO to extend eastward. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said after recent talks that "it is important to ensure that Ukraine never becomes a member of NATO."