New intelligence suggests Russia could attack Ukraine before the Olympics end, sources say
United Kingdom Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Friday that he heard “clearly” from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow after talks with Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu amid Russia-West tensions over Ukraine, Wallace said: “I heard clearly from the Russian government that they had no intention of invading Ukraine.”
The UK will look at the actions that back up Russia’s assurances that Moscow will not invade Ukraine, Wallace said.
“When they say to me they are not going to invade Ukraine, we will take that seriously, but as I also said we will look at the actions that accompany it,” he said.
Wallace also said that “the disposition of the Russian forces that we see over 100,000 in both Belarus and Ukraine, obviously gives that size of force the ability to do a whole range of actions including an invasion of neighboring country at any time.”
Wallace said that he had “constructive and frank discussions” with Shoigu, and that they both agreed on the importance of the implementation of the Minsk agreement as “a clear way forward.”
“I was clear about the tragic consequences that any invasion of Ukraine could have for all people, both Ukrainian, Russia, and the security of Europe,” he added.
“We urged dialogue as a way through to address any concerns that Russia the Russian government may have,” Wallace said.
Wallace said he would put the level of UK-Russia relations “above zero” following his meeting with Shoigu Friday, after Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti earlier reported that Shoigu had told Wallace that the level is “close to zero.”
“Of course Britain has some ongoing issues with the Russian government, not least, the poisoning and deployment of nerve agent, by agents of the Russian state in Salisbury, and the requests we have, obviously, out for the people suspected of committing that crime. And that is ongoing and needs to be resolved,” Wallace said.
However, “this is the first meeting of a UK defense minister with Minister Shoigu since 2013,” he said. “So that is nine years, and I think the beginning of this process, which is to understand each other’s concerns, also to be able to have a line of communication is a lot better than 0%.”
Wallace went on to say that he looks forward to having an ongoing relationship with his Russian counterpart.
