Thu. Nov 14th, 2024
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A visiting British Minister has urged allies including Australia not to abandon Ukraine, declaring the war-torn nation “can and will” defeat Russia’s illegal invasion.

UK Armed Services Minister James Heappey also flagged the possibility of British troops being eventually stationed in Darwin and hit out at veterans who later work with the Chinese military.

Speaking in Canberra, where he has held talks with senior officials, Mr Heappey said he was confident Ukraine would prevail in the war if it was properly supported by the West.

“My sort of message is that the Ukrainians can and will win this, the only thing that would limit their ability to do so is if the donor community loses patience and resolve,” the former Army officer said.

“That means that we have to be realistic about the ongoing offensive, I think at the moment it’s going broadly as you’d expect – what they’ve got to do is pretty hard.

“The Ukrainians are advancing uniformly across the entire frontage – it’s slow going to get through the minefield but when they find a gap, they’ve got everything really that the West has gifted them”.

Despite dwindling stockpiles of munitions across the world, the minister says Russian President Vladimir Putin should not simply expect to wear down the Ukrainians.

“He should not think that he can outwait the West, it won’t happen. Our resolve is such and our industrial base is such that he’d be better to leave Ukraine now rather than think that he can fight on indefinitely and eventually we’ll get bored.”

British troops in Darwin could be UK’s ‘next step’ for regional commitment 

While in Australia, Mr Heappey has met troops taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre. He said it was possible that British troops could one day be stationed in the top end.

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