The situation in Ukraine is still tense, and the United Kingdom has announced that it will increase troops to Eastern Europe to "deal with Russian aggression", but at the same time, the diplomatic action between the British side and the Russian government around the Ukrainian side is still continuing. Later this week, British Defence Secretary Wallace will travel to Moscow for talks with Russian Defense Minister Shoigu. This is the first time since the Ukraine crisis that a defense minister from a NATO member has visited Moscow.
Comprehensive British "Guardian", Russia Today (RT) and other media reported on February 9, local time on February 9, the British government issued a statement saying that in order to cope with the current Russian-Ukrainian crisis, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will go to Brussels and Warsaw on the 10th to hold talks with NATO leader Stoltenberg and Polish leaders to "provide support" for allies.
The British government said Johnson planned to propose to NATO at a meeting with NATO leaders to increase the number of British troops in Estonia, deploy more RAF fighters to southern Europe, and deploy at least one Royal Navy destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean. This new military deployment plan will be officially proposed on February 10, local time.
Screenshot of the Reuters report
British troops deployed in southern Europe Image source: British troops Twitter
The British government made clear in a statement that the proposal would include "doubling the number of British troops in Estonia to support NATO's strengthened forward presence, deploying more RAF fighters, adding a squadron of fighters (around 12 to 24) in southern Europe, and deploying British patrols to the eastern Mediterranean on the HMS Trent and a Type 45 destroyer." The purpose of the surge was to "help protect the seas and skies of southeastern NATO."
The British government made it clear what the purpose of the deployment of these troops was clear: British troops already deployed to Poland, as well as soldiers who would arrive in Estonia "in the coming weeks," would "help Poland and other Eastern European countries deal with the effects of Russian aggression."
The British government also announced that it had ordered 1,000 soldiers on standby to support NATO and its allies "in times of humanitarian crisis." In addition, Johnson will take advantage of his upcoming visits to Brussels and Warsaw to call on NATO members to "stand in solidarity with those NATO allies who bore the brunt of Russia's aggression." At the end of the statement, the British Prime Minister's Office said Britain's commitment to European security remained unwavering.
At present, tensions in the Ukrainian region are still continuing, and NATO countries have successively announced the increase of troops to Eastern Europe.
On February 2, local time, the United States ordered the dispatch of nearly 3,000 additional soldiers to Poland and Romania, and since the 4th, some US personnel and equipment have arrived in Poland and Germany. On the 7th, another group of American soldiers and equipment arrived in southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border. At the same time, German Defense Minister Lambrecht announced on the 7th that in view of the increasingly tense relationship between Ukraine and Russia, Germany decided to send additional soldiers to Lithuania. Germany's defense minister said up to 350 troops were quickly sent to NATO's "enhanced forward deployment" mission.
Despite the announcement of the increase in troops, diplomacy between the British and Russian governments around ukraine continues, and later this week, British Defence Secretary Wallace will travel to Moscow for talks with Russian Defense Minister Shoigu. This is the first time since the Ukraine crisis that a defense minister from a NATO member has visited Moscow.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Teras will also visit Moscow on Feb. 10 for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. As for the outcome of the visit, Wallace has told the British parliament that he is "not optimistic" about the outcome of the talks.
For the diplomatic mediation of the West, the Russian side said that Russia has no intention of causing a conflict, but in order to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, Ukraine must implement all the measures stipulated in the Minsk agreement.
Russia's special envoy to the United Nations, Vasily Nebendja, said on Russian television (Rossiya 24) that tensions in Ukraine will continue until the Ukrainian government begins negotiations with the Donetsk and Luhansk sides. Nejja reiterated that Russia will not take any malicious actions against Ukraine, especially military action. "Russia has not officially announced any malicious plans related to Ukraine, anywhere and at any level," he said. ”
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