Ben Wallace claims soldiers on standby as UK ‘at forefront’ of Ukraine defence

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has confirmed that soldiers are on standby as the UK remains at the “forefront” of supporting Ukraine amid a Russian invasion.

Russia began its attack on neighbour Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday morning, with missile attacks being heard and seen across widespread parts of the country.

Speaking to GB News, Mr Wallace revealed that the UK was doing everything it could to help Ukraine, but admitted that Putin seemed “set on a course of action”.

“We have many of the soldiers on standby under indirect command of the supreme allied command of Europe that is the senior general at NATO,” Wallace said.

“We will respond to this as NATO, 30 countries, a massive alliance and therefore if we are to send troops to other part of the world we will do that under his command.

“Sadly and regretfully, and Britain has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine on this, Ukraine is not in NATO so it doesn’t get the self-defence of 30 countries all able to come together to help.

“But we can do the next best thing and that is provide lethal aid and non-lethal aid and that is what we’re doing right now.

“We’ll do everything we can to help them, but Putin seems set on a course of action that will forever isolate him and lead to huge suffering.”