The UK would stand by the Ukrainian government, he added, pointing to lethal and non-lethal aid provided to Kyiv from Britain and Estonia…reports Asian Lite News
British Defence Minister Ben Wallace on Thursday told Russian President Vladimir Putin it was “not too late to stop” the invasion of Ukraine.
The UK has taken a series of punitive actions against Moscow since Putin launched the attack last week, including sanctions on Russian banks. “The message to President Putin is Stop. It isn’t too late to stop what you are doing,” Wallace said during a press conference with his Estonian counterpart Kalle Laanet.
“It isn’t too late to stop what you are doing… you risk being isolated for decades to come”
The British minister described the Russian leader’s actions as “illegal” and warned Putin he risked being isolated for decades to come. The sanctions are heavy; the international community is united. NATO is united and we won’t accept what we are seeing in Ukraine,” Wallace said.
The UK would stand by the Ukrainian government, he added, pointing to lethal and non-lethal aid provided to Kyiv from Britain and Estonia. “This hasn’t finished here. The consequences of what we’re seeing in Ukraine will ripple through Europe and NATO for not just weeks, but months and years to come,” Wallace warned.
The agreement followed another deal signed in June between Ukraine, the UK and British industry representatives, which is aimed at boosting Ukraine’s naval capabilities…reports Asian Lite News.
Visiting British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said his country stands ready to continue its support for Ukraine, according to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.
“The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and will continue its long-standing determination to support them,” Wallace added in the joint statement with Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov following their talks in Kiev on Tuesday.
In the statement, Reznikov and Wallace said last week the governments of their countries signed an agreement that would continue progress on the joint projects to develop the capabilities of the Naval forces of the Armed forces of Ukraine.
The agreement followed another deal signed in June between Ukraine, the UK and British industry representatives, which is aimed at boosting Ukraine’s naval capabilities.
Ukraine and the UK, which are strategic partners in security and defence, remain “vigilant and united” in the defense of their common values and freedoms, the statement said.
Wallace arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for a one-day working visit. During his visit, he also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
UK's Secretary of Defence, Ben Wallace, visits Ukraine to meet with Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Reznikov. Hopefully, they will sign a defense agreement as was reported in media last week. https://t.co/CdEDzsOCWR
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the US decision to pull out of Afghanistan has “accelerated things,” reported Xinhua…reports Asian Lite News.
British Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said on Monday that British forces will not be returning to Afghanistan after the Taliban seized the Afghan capital city of Kabul.
Responding to a question by Sky News if Britain and NATO forces would return to Afghanistan, Wallace said, “That’s not on the cards that we’re going to go back,” reported Xinhua.
Wallace said Britain was doing everything it could to evacuate British nationals and Afghans with links to Britain.
“Our target is…about 1,200 to 1,500 exit a day in the capacity of our aeroplanes, and we’ll keep that flow,” he said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the US decision to pull out of Afghanistan has “accelerated things,” reported Xinhua.
The British parliament will be recalled on Wednesday from their summer recess to debate the British government’s response to the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan.
The British Defense Secretary on Friday said the US decision to pull its military forces out of Afghanistan was a “mistake,” which has handed the Taliban “momentum” in the country, reported Xinhua.
“Of course I am worried, it is why I said I felt this was not the right time or decision to make because, of course, Al-Qaida will probably come back, certainly would like that type of breeding ground,” he told Sky News.
The Taliban said on Sunday that the war in Afghanistan has ended and they will soon declare the establishment of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, reported Xinhua. (ANI)
In his meeting with PM Suga, Wallace emphasised the UK and Japan’s common strategic interests, commitment to stability in the region and a free and open Indo-Pacific…reports Asian Lite News.
During a two-day visit to Japan, UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has met with Japan’s Prime Minister Suga and Defence Minister Kishi and reaffirmed the UK and Japan’s close ties in defence and security.
The meet was ahead of the visit of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group to Japan in September.
In his meeting with PM Suga, Wallace emphasised the UK and Japan’s common strategic interests, commitment to stability in the region and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The UK’s defence relationship with Japan is the closest it has been in the last century,” Wallace said.
“Following exercises with the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force in the Gulf of Aden and in the waters off Japan, the upcoming visit of the UK-led Carrier Strike Group to five ports across the country is a clear demonstration of our commitment to maintaining regional security and upholding the rules-based international order with Japan,” he added.
During a joint press conference with Defence Minister Kishi, he announced the Japanese ports that elements of the Carrier Strike Group will be visiting. They will be Sasebo, Okinawa, Kure, Yokosuka, and Maizuru.
Following on from the Carrier Strike Group’s inaugural deployment, the UK will permanently assign two offshore patrol vessels to the Indo-Pacific region from later this year.
It will also contribute a Littoral Response Group (LRG) in the coming years, thereby demonstrating the UK’s commitment to collective defence and security in the region in the decades ahead.
The Secretary of State was accompanied Admiral Antony Radakin, First Sea Lord, and Air Chief Marshal Michael Wigston, Chief of Air Staff. During the visit the Secretary of State and delegation met with senior leadership from the Japanese Self Defence Forces and the U.S Forces in Japan.
🇬🇧: "During visit to Japan, Ben Wallace met with Prime Minister Suga and Defence Minister Kishi and reaffirmed UK and Japan’s shared values and close partnership in defence and security ahead of visit of UK’s Carrier Strike Group to Japan in September."https://t.co/OlvXKGcfKp
“The visit to Japan by senior members of the UK’s armed forces and the Secretary of State represents the ever closer partnership between Japan and the UK and our commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” Julia Longbottom, British Ambassador to Japan said.
“The UK is committed to working with Japan to support regional stability and to meet shared global challenges, such as cyber security, combatting global pandemics and ensuring the global systems that promote the free flow of trade and knowledge are strengthened and defended,” he added.
