Russian win would cost trillions in new Cold War, says Heappey
UKRAINE suffering defeat by Russia would cost the West trillions in a new Cold War, the former Armed Forces minister has warned.
The US Congress has passed a $61billion (£48.3billion) aid package to help Ukraine fend off advancing Russian forces, while last week, Britain announced an additional £500 million in military funding for Ukraine.
Writing in The House Magazine, James Heappey said that “more aid packages like the ones unveiled ... will be needed” for Ukraine to win in the battle for “security across the whole European-atlantic region”.
He added: “A stalemate or, heaven forbid, a Ukrainian defeat, promises a new Cold War that will last for decades and cost trillions of dollars more.”
Mr Heappey, who is a former soldier, resigned from his government position last month after calling for a higher share of GDP to be spent on defence amid concerns about the strength of the British military.
Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has since committed to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030. It is currently at 2.3 per cent.
Joe Biden, the US president, has promised “significant” support, including more air defences, for Kyiv, where supplies of vital ammunition have diminished. The aid package was passed after a vote that ended a deadlock between the White House and Republicans on Capitol Hill, who opposed additional spending on the war and argued that it should be spent on domestic programmes.
The £500 million in additional UK funding for Ukraine announced by Mr Sunak last week brings the UK’S spending on military aid in Ukraine to £3 billion this financial year. It will include air-defence missiles to thwart Russia’s bombardment of power stations.
The Prime Minister has also pledged to donate hundreds of armoured vehicles, 60 boats and four million rounds of small-arms ammunition.
Mr Heappey said the latest aid package will not “immediately tip the balance, allowing the Ukrainians to go on to a final offensive that brings a quick and complete victory”.
He added: “My expectation is that with this huge inflow of Western support we’ll see the front lines stabilise and, while the fighting will be fierce, I don’t expect to see significant amounts of territory traded this year.”
He does not believe that the Ukrainians will be ready to defeat the Russians until 2025 or even 2026.