Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says the UK “wouldn’t hesitate” to send further British troops to combat Russian aggression.
Speaking to Breakfast with Eamonn and Isabel, Mr Wallace said the UK’s armed forces are professional “and we know they are, that means we can do as we say… we can deliver what we promise.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace
PO Phot Dave Jenkins
The defence secretary told GB News viewers the direction of travel of Russian forces “is the wrong way”, expressing high levels of concern that “over half of the whole of Russia's ground combat capability” was on the border of Ukraine and in Belarus.
He said the UK was still trying to explore diplomatic solutions with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in Moscow at the moment.
Criticising Russia’s President, Mr Wallace said “it’s always in Putin’s interest to try and sow division within Europe and NATO, that is something that is a deliberate policy”, adding it was important for international partners to work collectively.
"Our values say we respect the sovereign right of a country to choose its alliances… we will all stand up for that, whether that's for a NATO country, or a non-NATO country’, said the defence secretary.