London (Times Of Ocean)- Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will say the UK and western powers should provide warplanes to Ukraine as part of long-term military support.
Liz Truss will make a major speech in London, arguing that the West “must be prepared for the long haul and double down on our support” for the country.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked allies to supply heavy armaments such as aircraft and tanks since Russia invaded.
As a result of fears of escalation, NATO has mostly provided lighter weapons.
“The fate of Ukraine remains in the balance,” Truss will tell an audience at Mansion House, in the City of London, and the West “cannot afford complacency”.
“We would never feel safe again if Putin succeeds,” she will say on Wednesday evening. “There will be unimaginable misery across Europe and terrible consequences worldwide.”
“Heavy weapons, tanks, aeroplanes – digging deep into our inventory, ramping up production. We have to do this.”
Downing Street said the government would not rule out training Ukrainian pilots or sending British jets to eastern Europe to supply back up for allies who supply jets to Kyiv.
“While there are no plans to send planes from the UK, certainly we want to work with other countries in order to ensure Ukraine has the equipment it needs,” the prime minister’s spokesman said.
Truss will also reiterate a call for a boost in UK defence spending.
David Lammy, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary, said the speech appeared to reflect the government’s decline in commitment to defence and security after more than a decade.