UK leads the world on Ukraine, says Bolton

Former White House adviser praises Britain but concerns are raised over cuts to defence spending

Britain has done more than the US in helping Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion, John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser, will say today. Mr Bolton will cite military backing of Kyiv as evidence that Brexit has restored Britain’s scope for independent action. “Britain has taken a leading role in the West’s efforts … in many respects a stronger and more effective view than the USA,” he will say at the launch of a report into Britain’s post-brexit role in the world.

BRITAIN has done more than America in helping Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion, former White House national security adviser John Bolton will say today.

Speaking at the launch of a major new report on Britain’s role in the world after Brexit, Mr Bolton will cite UK military backing of Kyiv as evidence that its departure from the EU has restored its scope for independent action on the world stage. “Britain has taken a leading role in the West’s efforts to defeat this aggression and to make the point to would-be aggressors around the world,” he will say. “In many respects, I say with some envy, taking a stronger and more effective view than the USA.”

It came as the former head of the British armed forces warned against cuts to military spending and urged leaders to buy more American weapons to backfill those donated to Ukraine.

The UK has pledged more than £1.3billion in support to Ukraine, including more than 5,000 NLAW antitank missiles, long-range multiple launch rocket systems, and artillery systems including self-propelled guns.

The US committed around £4.3billion in security assistance since the beginning of the Biden administration, including 6,500 Javelin anti-armour systems, 108 155mm howitzers and 20 Mi-17 helicopters.

Britain has donated 0.18 per cent of its GDP in weapons, while the US has sent the equivalent of 0.22 per cent.

Before the Russian invasion on Feb 24, the US president was criticised for suggesting a “minor incursion” by Russia might not merit a strong international response. He has subsequently accused the Kremlin of carrying out a “genocide” and described Vladimir Putin as a “dictator”.

Boris Johnson paid his second visit to Kyiv on Friday and offered to launch a major training operation for Ukrainian forces, with the potential to train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days during a meeting with President Zelensky.

Joe Biden is yet to visit the Ukrainian capital, and yesterday ruled out a trip on his upcoming visit to Europe.

He told reporters, however, that he speaks with the Ukrainian prime minister “three to four times a week”.

Lord Dannatt, the head of the British Army from 2006 to 2009, told The Daily Telegraph last night that cuts to defence spending could jeopardise victory over Russia in a long war in Europe.

“Our land capability is not credible, and would not be seen by the Kremlin as being a sufficient deterrent,” he said, adding that “at the very least planned cuts to the size of the Army should be reduced”.

Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence select committee, echoed that demand, telling The Telegraph: “All three services are now too small to manage the ever-greater burden we place on them.”

Both men were speaking after the new Chief of the General Staff, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, wrote a memo to soldiers and civil servants warning that they must be “capable of beating Russia in battle”.

Under current plans, the Army will shrink from its current target manpower of 82,000 troops to just 72,500 by 2025. Its number of main battle tanks will also be slashed from 227 to 148, although the remaining vehicles will be upgraded.

Those decisions followed the 2021 Integrated Review which looked to update Britain’s foreign and defence policy and recommended a shift in focus toward the Indo-pacific.

While the Government announced a £16.5billion boost to defence spending in 2020, the tilt towards the Indo-pacific has meant a renewed emphasis on naval and air power with Britain’s land forces left behind, said Lord Dannatt.

He was joined in that call by Mr Ellwood, a former Army captain, who added that the integrated review “is now out of date, as is the peacetime defence budget of 2.2 per cent”.

Lord Dannatt told The Telegraph that the war in Ukraine, with its emphasis on heavy artillery and armour, should push Britain to rebuild its so-called legacy capabilities.

Unaccompanied Ukrainian children are to be allowed to come to the UK under changes by Priti Patel. They will be allowed to come to Britain if they have permission from their parent or legal guardian and the Ukrainian government under the plan due to be announced tomorrow.