Ukraine has repeatedly wanted to buy weapons from Britain for seven years, but has been turned down by three successive prime ministers, according to reports.
Former Defense Minister Michael Fallon has accused successive governments of being reluctant to support Kyiv since Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Speaking to former Prime Minister David Cameron, Mr Fallon said he had been told to reject requests for assistance in improving Ukraine’s defense, even though the Ministry of Defense wanted to “do more”.
“We were blocked and we were blocked in the cabinet to send the Ukrainians the weapons they needed,” Mr Fallon told the Sunday Times.
“Some in the cabinet thought very strongly that we should not do anything to further provoke Russia.
“It simply came to our notice then. The Russians did not need provocations. They were already there, sending people across the border.
Former Secretary of Defense Michael Fallon has accused the United Kingdom of refusing to support Kyiv
(AP)
Liam Fox, another defense minister under Mr Cameron, who spoke out against failing to arm Ukraine as an MP in 2015, said: “It was very clear what [Putin’s] the pattern of behavior was and was very clear that Ukraine would be next.
“It made no sense to say, ‘Well, we can’t give Ukrainians the opportunity to defend themselves in the event of Putin’s provocation.’
The revelations came when Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky thanked Boris Johnson for currently training members of his army in the United Kingdom.
Mr Johnson spoke with Mr Zelensky on Saturday afternoon about current information on Kyiv’s conflict with Russia.
A spokesman for number 10 said: “President Zelensky thanked the Prime Minister for the training of the Ukrainian military, which is currently taking place in the United Kingdom.
Boris Johnson with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky earlier in April
(PA Media)
At a news conference in Kyiv on Saturday, Zelensky said he was “satisfied” with the level of military support coming from the United Kingdom.
He told reporters: “We want more than we are given, but we are satisfied.
“We cannot refuse or reject anything during the war from the greatest military aid that comes from the United States and the United Kingdom.
“There are many other friends in Europe, but I’m talking about a lot of help, and I’m grateful for that.”
Russia has stepped up fighting in the east as several civilians were killed in Mariupol and Kharkiv on Saturday, while other civilians and Ukrainian troops in Mariupol resisted shelling of the Azovtal steel plant.
A government spokesman said the UK had been at the forefront of the international response to Putin’s “special military operation” and had provided unprecedented financial, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine.
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