Putin ‘plotting a full-scale invasion’
Ukraine facing the ‘nightmare scenario’, warn defence chiefs
VLADIMIR Putin will opt for the ‘nightmare scenario’ of a full invasion of Ukraine as tensions rise towards tipping point, Uk defence chiefs fear.
The Russian president has 100,000 troops along with military hardware amassed along the border.
The White House warned yesterday the situation was ‘extremely dangerous’ and that Moscow could launch an attack ‘at any point’. It had been thought Mr Putin would choose the ‘simple option’ of sending troops into the Donbass region in south-eastern Ukraine and then negotiate for it to become an independent state, providing a buffer between pro-western Ukraine and Russia.
as the region is already occupied by pro-Russian separatists, and has been in a state of war since 2014, it was believed it would offer little resistance.
But the latest intelligence now has Ministry of Defence chiefs worried about a much larger incursion, raising fears of warfare engulfing cities and high civilian death tolls.
They believe Mr Putin’s troops are being positioned in line with his new objective, with armoured divisions set to head into neighbouring Belarus on exercise but now stationed within striking distance of kiev.
Last night a senior defence source said: ‘We strongly believe [Putin’s] preference is for a full invasion rather than a limited offensive. In a sense he might as well go for as much of Ukraine as he can get hold of because the penalties are just the same.
‘also, if he just occupies the eastern regions he will never be able to take back the whole of Ukraine because of the inevitable strengthening of Ukrainian forces in the remainder of the country in the aftermath. ‘It is the nightmare scenario.’ Mr Putin is aware that as Ukraine does not belong to nato, there will be no military response by Western states. similarly, the economic sanctions threatened by the Us and the Uk apply regardless of the scale of such action.
Moscow has denied plans to invade and is said to have concluded that capturing Ukraine is apparently worth the price, sources said. Last night, kiev hailed Britain for sending antitank weapons and troops as an ‘important first step’ to help the country defend itself.
On Monday, two C-17 transporters left the Uk with 2,000 armour-piercing missile systems and soldiers to teach Ukraine’s forces how to use them. But the Ukrainian ambassador to the Uk, Vadym Prystaiko, called on extra help from Western powers. ‘We are asking for more, and we are expecting to have more,’ Mr Prystaiko told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. ‘I am not ashamed to ask to help us with everything that is possible to avoid this war.
‘Russia is stopped when it is stopped, not when Putin decided that he achieved enough.’ The diplomat hit out at Germany for failing to match Britain’s offer of military aid, with Berlin preferring to focus on the threat of sanctions. ‘How can we be given a chance to defend ourselves if you’re not giving weapons? With what? Rocks?’ he said.
Mr Prystaiko also slammed Berlin for pushing ahead with the controversial nord stream 2 gas pipeline that will circumvent Ukraine. Critics fear it will increase Germany’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.
In comments that will alarm kiev, German Foreign Minister annalena Baerbock said her
country needs ‘a reliable Russia’
‘The penalties are the same’
‘Defend ourselves with what? Rocks?’
to supply Europe with gas. However, German Chancellor Olaf scholz said he may consider halting the pipeline if Moscow attacks. With pressure to take a more hawkish stance, he met nato secretary-General Jens stoltenberg in Berlin to discuss the next steps. Mr scholz told reporters it was ‘clear that there will be a high price to pay and that everything will have to be discussed should there be a military intervention in Ukraine’.
In a show of support for former soviet republics, Defence secretary Ben Wallace yesterday visited Latvia. He told officials the Uk stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Baltic state – a nato ally. He said the countries were ‘united in their resolve’ against Russian aggression.