British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace holds a press conference with Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov at the Ministry of Defense in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, London, UK, March 21, 2022. REUTERS / Peter Nicholls
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LONDON, April 28 (Reuters) – British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Thursday that it would be legal for Ukrainian forces to turn to Russian logistics to cripple their food, fuel and ammunition supplies, but are unlikely to use British weapons for that.
Tensions between Britain and Russia rose this week when Moscow accused London of provoking Ukraine to strike at targets in Russia, saying there would be an immediate “proportional response” if it continued. Read more
Wallace said that under international law, Ukraine has every right to defend itself.
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“Part of the defense in this type of invasion is obviously where Ukraine will go after the Russian army’s supply lines, because without fuel, food and ammunition, the Russian army stops and can no longer continue its invasion,” he said. BBC television.
Britain has been an active supporter of Ukraine since it was attacked in late February, sending aid and weapons to help repel its larger neighbor.
Wallace said Britain had sent artillery to Ukraine, which is being used within Ukraine against Russian forces, but added that it was not and unlikely to send weapons that could be used for longer-range attacks.
He said it was unclear whether the attacks in Russia in recent weeks had come from the Ukrainian state. He added that Ukraine does not have British weapons that could do that.
Ukrainian forces, he said, tend to use mobile launchers, while the British military will supply them by air or sea.
“At the moment, they don’t have British weapons that can do that, so it’s unlikely that these are our weapons,” he said. “It’s very unlikely to give this to someone just because of technology, but also because of the lack of those opportunities. So it’s very unlikely.”
Wallace also denied that NATO was involved in a proxy war with Russia, but said the West would provide increasing support to Ukraine if Russian attacks continued. “Sometimes that includes planes and tanks,” he told Times Radio.
Russia said Wednesday a series of bombings in the south and a fire at an ammunition depot. Read more
Russia has repeatedly criticized Britain’s military support for Ukraine, accusing it of wanting to prolong the conflict to weaken Moscow.
In response to a similar British statement Tuesday stating that Russia’s military targets in Russia are a fair game for Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that British logic meant that Russia also theoretically had the right to strike at targets in NATO countries such as the United Kingdom if they involve arms supplies to Ukraine.
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Report by Kate Holton and Muvia M in London; edited by Michael Holden and Angus McSwon
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