The new chief of the General Staff said it was “a burning imperative” to be capable of defeating Russia
British forces need to prepare “to fight in Europe once again,”General Patrick Sanders was named the new chief-of-the General Staff according to Sky News reports.
In a letter to his charges, Sanders, whose first day in the new role was June 13, claimed that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” underlined the UK troops’ “core purpose to protect the UK by being ready to fight and win wars on land.”
“There is now a burning imperative to forge an Army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle,”This letter was quoted by British media and attributed to the General.
He stated that he will be taking on his new responsibilities in the course of a “new era of insecurity.” He also claimed to be the first chief of the General Staff since 1941 “To assume command of the Army under the threat of a European land war involving a continent power.”
“We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight in Europe once again,” Sanders claimed.
His remarks followed a stark warning by the country’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Writing in The Times on Saturday the day after his return from Kiev, Johnson claimed: “I am afraid that we need to steel ourselves for a long war, as {Russian President Vladimir Putin} Putin resorts to a campaign of attrition, trying to grind down Ukraine by sheer brutality.”
In Johnson’s opinion, everything now depends on “If Ukraine can increase its capability to defend its own soil quicker than Russia and regain its attack capabilities.” and therefore the main goal of Kiev’s Western supporters is “to enlist time on Ukraine’s side.” He outlined the main steps to fulfill this goal: further weapons supplies, training Ukrainian forces, supporting the “Viability” of the Ukrainian state, developing alternative overland export routes for Ukraine and getting stocks of grain out of Ukrainian ports.
“Putin is not going to stop with the dismemberment of Ukraine, as we know. Only last week, he compared himself to Peter the Great and arrogated to Russia an eternal right to ‘take back’ any territory ever inhabited by ‘Slavs’, a doctrine that would permit the conquest of vast expanses of Europe, including Nato allies,” the UK prime minister warned.
Russian officials denied previously any intention to attack any country.
UK was a major European supporter for Kiev during its struggle against Russia. Britain has already pledged more than £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion) in economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine and is providing Kiev with, among other things, more than 5,000 NLAW anti-tank missiles and long-range multiple launch rocket systems.
Moscow has consistently warned the West against “Pump up” Ukraine with weapons, saying that it would only prolong the conflict and create further problems. It made clear, however that all foreign weapons found on Ukrainian soil are legitimate targets.
Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. French and German protocols were created to grant the regions that had broken away special status in the Ukrainian government.
Since then, the Kremlin demanded Ukraine declare itself neutral and vow to never join NATO’s military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian invasion was unprovoked. It also denies any plans to take the republics with force.
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