UK and Europe must step up over Ukraine, says ex-Army boss
The former head of the armed forces said that in the event of a deal with Russia, Britain and Europe may need to provide security assurances for Ukraine.
Retired Sir Nick Carter said he believed Ukraine was going to decide on a “fair settlement”, but that Britain and European countries “need to strengthen the plate when ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty”.
He told the BBC’s question time special, “If Americans are not ready to do this, then some others will have to add to the plate”.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Kyle Stemmer said, “U.S. security assurance is the only way to effectively stop Russia.”
He said that when necessary, Britain is willing to provide peacekeeping forces, but needs the United States “backstage”.
Sir Kyle didn’t explain what he meant, but others suggested it might involve air support, logistics and intelligence capabilities.
This is a rift between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, who said the United States will soon begin direct negotiations with Russia, which seems to have deepened in recent days.
The U.S. president called Zelensky a “dictator” and suggested that Ukraine be responsible for the full invasion of Russia in February 2022 and that a peace agreement may be reached in advance.
Ukrainian leaders say the U.S. president “lives in a false information space created by Moscow.”
At the same time, Washington also advised Europe to take greater responsibility for its defense.
Former defense officer Sir Nick had held positions between 2018 and 2021 – he believes Britain and other European allies “must state positions”.
“Fundamentally speaking, fundamentally, Ukraine’s sovereignty must be guaranteed in the future,” he said.
Sir Nick also warned that the British armed forces were “very hollow” after “ignoring the process within 30 years”.
“I think we also need to be clear about how vulnerable our country is,” he said, describing how much of the UK’s important infrastructure depends on whether the underside cable is “not properly protected by cyber defenses”.
He said: “I think we are in a very vulnerable position right now. Whether we like it or not, it means we are going to have to start protecting ourselves.”
“In the past three years, Ukraine has suffered air attacks through drones and missiles, and in the case of the UK, Ukraine has suffered drones and missiles.
“We may be able to park the destroyers on the Thames to protect parts of London, but that’s all.”
Thursday’s question time panel includes Sir Nick; Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko, a liberal, member of the pro-European opposition Holos party; and Jan Halper-Hayes, who served as Trump’s campaign adviser ; Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds; Conservative former Secretary of Defense Sir Ben Wallace.
