LONDON (AP) – Britain’s top diplomat on Wednesday called on Western allies to send tanks, fighter jets and other heavy weapons to Ukraine, saying fears of escalating war were unfounded and “inaction would be the biggest provocation”.
Foreign Minister Liz Truss said it was “a time for courage, not caution” among nations helping Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion.
“Heavy weapons, tanks, planes – digging deep into our reserves, increasing production. We have to do all this, “Truss said during an annual foreign policy speech at Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of London.
NATO countries supply Ukraine with military weapons and equipment, including missiles and armored vehicles. But they are reluctant to send fighters – despite requests from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky – for fear of escalation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already accused NATO of effectively waging a proxy war against Russia.
Western officials deny this, saying the conflict is between Russia and Ukraine over Russia’s illegal invasion of its neighbor.
Britain has sent 450 million pounds ($ 565 million) in military aid to Ukraine, including thousands of missiles. But despite Trusse’s call for planes, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman Max Blaine said there were “no plans” for the UK to send planes. He did not rule out Britain sending planes to another country, such as Poland, which will then donate its planes to Ukraine, but said there were no “concrete plans” to do so.
Trus said Russia’s attack on Ukraine should be a wake-up call for international institutions that failed to prevent the invasion.
“Architecture that was designed to guarantee peace and prosperity has failed in Ukraine,” Trus said. “The economic and security structures developed after World War II and then the Cold War were distorted so far that they allowed, not limited, aggression.
The quake called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “desperate swindler” who tore apart the global order and outwitted international institutions.
“Russia is able to block any effective action in the UN Security Council,” where it has the right to veto as a permanent member, she said, adding that the Group of 20 Rich and Emerging Nations Club “cannot function as an effective member.” economic body while Russia remains on the table. ”
In response, Trus called for a new focus on “military power, economic security and deeper global alliances” between “free nations”.
After years of declining military spending in many countries, including Britain, she said NATO’s goal of spending 2% of its gross domestic product on defense should be “under the ceiling”.
Trus also called for tougher economic sanctions against Russia, saying the West should stop importing Russian oil and gas “once and for all”. This would be easier for Britain than for many other European nations.
“If Putin succeeds, there will be indescribable additional misfortunes throughout Europe and terrible consequences around the world,” she said. “We will never feel safe again. So we need to be prepared for the long road and redouble our support for Ukraine.
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