Britain has started supplying Ukraine with new light anti-tank weapons in
response to Russia's increasingly threatening behavior. British Defense
Minister Ben Wallace announced this to parliament, in a report reported by
Reuters on Tuesday (18/1/2022).
The increase in military support comes as Russia continues to increase its
troop numbers by moving troops to Belarus which borders Ukraine to the
north, and is considered the most likely route for any invasion of Ukraine.
"We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with a light anti-armor
defense weapon system," Wallace told parliament on Monday (17/1/2022).
He added that a "small number" of British troops would provide training to
help Ukrainian forces use them.
The defense minister insists the arms sales are meant to be defensive,
although Russian President Vladimir Putin recently complained about other
NATO members selling modern weapons to Ukraine.
After Turkey sold the TB2 anti-tank drone to Ukraine, Putin spoke with
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Kremlin, the
Turkish-Ukrainian arms deal was provocative.
“Let me be clear, this support is for short-range weapons capabilities and
is clearly defensive. They are not a strategic weapon and pose no threat to
Russia but they use it in self-defense," Wallace said.
British defense sources would not immediately say what weapons had been
supplied and in how many.
However, experts say the weapons supplied are likely to be new-generation
light anti-tank weapons with a range of several hundred meters. Its intended
purpose was to help fight the Russian heavy tank forces. The weapon has
similar capabilities, but is not as powerful as the Javelin anti-tank
missiles the United States supplies to Ukraine.
In theory, lighter weapons could knock out a tank by attacking it from
above. Labor said it supported the announcement, which had been forewarned.
Britain's Deputy Defense Secretary John Healey called them "anti-tank
weapons" and said Britain must ensure they "will not be used unless Russia
strikes".
Wallace also said he would invite his Russian counterpart, Defense Minister
Sergei Shoigu for bilateral talks in London, although it remains unclear
whether the meeting will take place.
"We are ready to discuss issues relating to common security issues and
engage constructively, in good faith," Wallace said.
The latest arms sale is a step forward from the UK's military commitments to
Ukraine. The UK has recently focused on selling ships and naval equipment to
Ukraine, announcing a £1.7 billion deal to supply two minesweepers and
jointly building eight ships for the small Black Sea fleet last year.
Russia, on the other hand, has amassed more than 100,000 troops on its
borders, demanding that it never become a member of NATO and demanding other
security guarantees that would amount to creating a sphere of influence for
Moscow in the former Soviet states.
Some Russian troops have also started moving to Belarus for a planned
military exercise, called United Resolve. But western military analysts say
the most direct route for Russia to attack Kyiv is from Belarus, a maneuver
that would avoid the Dnieper river that flows through the Ukrainian capital.
Moscow's demands were rejected by the west in a series of diplomatic
negotiations last week. The situation has raised concerns that Russia may be
ready to consider military options to reassert greater control over Ukraine.
NATO members say the alliance will not intervene militarily to defend Kyiv,
but have indicated that they will be ready to hit Russia with economic
sanctions and continue to supply weapons to Ukraine, both before and after
the invasion.
"I have visited Ukraine five times since 2016, and I know that the Ukrainian
people are proud people who will stand up and fight for their country, for
democracy and for freedom," Wallace said.
He explained, "Any invasion will not be seen as a 'liberation' but as an
occupation, and I fear it could lead to the loss of many lives on all
sides."
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said before a meeting with her
Russian counterpart on Tuesday (18/1/2022) she hoped tensions could be
resolved by diplomacy but, if not, Moscow would pay a "high price" for
aggressive action against Ukraine. .
Conservative defense committee chairman Tobias Ellwood asked what further
support NATO would provide if Putin gave the green light for an invasion.
Wallace said he hoped the arms sales announced on Monday would send a
message to the Kremlin.
"I hope, because I think President Putin still hasn't made a final decision,
but I hope it's enough to ward off the Kremlin, the united front in
sanctions that we're developing."
He then also added, "Be prepared and ready if anything happens, the strong
resilience in Ukraine should at least give people pause to think. The first
system was delivered today in this country."
