But be we warriors or wimps, now is the time to start facing up to the prospect, says Ed Arnold, a European Security Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. If we took casualties at the rate the Ukrainians are taking them, the NHS would immediately be overwhelmed, and for years we’ve missed recruitment targets for the Armed Forces. Indeed, for all the foreboding about societal collapse, facing a common threat could give Britain a new-found sense of unity – something many Ukrainians speak of. Just as there was the “Clap for Carers” during the pandemic, similar rituals might take place for those serving at the front. Conscription requires young men and women to serve for a limited time in uniform. It means that some of the population will have had some military training - and can then be assigned to reserve units should war break out. A number of European countries also rehearse for civil emergencies - with exercises that involve ordinary citizens as well as the military. There is a sense in the upper echelons of the British military that many politicians and most of the public have not grasped the threat they see. It is the duty of the military to analyse that threat, and they still might be proved wrong. But European nations closer to Russian borders appear to be taking it more seriously. Inside the British Army drill for war with Russia - on the streets of Rutland Funding for Kyiv has been tied to policies to address the flow of migrants across the US-Mexico border. But https://euronewstop.co.uk/why-doesnt-russia-want-ukraine-in-nato.html to deal with the issue has recently encountered growing opposition among Republicans aligned with Donald Trump. A US Senate deal to secure further aid to Ukraine is in danger of collapsing, according to lawmakers. “We’re at a critical moment, and we’ve got to drive hard to get this done. And if we can’t get there, then we’ll go to plan B,” senator John Thune, the chamber’s No 2 Republican, told reporters on Thursday. Former Nato security general Lord Robertson has told Sky News the Ukrainians are “fighting for us” and “we need to do more”. The Home Office’s initial response was criticised for being slow and bureaucratic, as the department’s overriding instinct to prioritise control, and security won out over pressure to get refugees into safe UK accommodation quickly. But while by far the most significant consequences of the invasion over the past year have clearly been for the people of the Ukraine (and Russia), the advent of war in mainland Europe has also had consequences for UK government. It's promising to deploy British forces to eastern European members of the Nato military alliance if Russian troops cross Ukraine's borders. I offer my condolences and that of the UK to all Ukrainians for the lives lost due to these barbaric airstrikes. These took place far away from the front lines of Russia’s war, in civilian populated areas. The intensity, regularity and indiscriminate nature of Russia’s attacks may violate international humanitarian law, is extremely concerning and must stop. Support links Up to 5,000 British citizens were estimated to be living in Ukraine before the crisis. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has since advised all UK citizens to leave the country, but it is not known how many remain and the FCDO has declined to comment on numbers. There are also 53 entities on the sanctions list, which mainly covers Russian-backed militias in eastern Ukraine but also includes a number of companies and the five Russian banks added on Tuesday. Russia’s invasion caused international stock markets to drop dramatically, with the FTSE 100 in London falling by 3.2 per cent. A lot of the stark warnings we are hearing from our own government should be seen in that light. The UK stands with Ukraine, its democratically-elected government and its brave people at this awful time. Although the government has been clear that Britain will not become involved directly in military conflict in Ukraine, the wider ramifications of the invasion will have a profound effect on the UK. Ukrainian counter-attacks were holding Russians back from taking full control of Avdiivka, the UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence report. Russian forces have suffered heavy personnel and armoured vehicle losses, frequently caused by Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle munitions. At least seven people are known to have been killed by Russian shelling, including civilians. The overall effect means Finland can muster one of Europe's largest armies. The size of its active armed forces is only 19,000 personnel, but it can call on another 238,000 reserves. In Sweden and Norway, conscription is partial - not everyone gets drafted. But it boosts the strength of the professional armed forces, which is often relatively small. He highlighted numerous threats, but there is one common thread amid all these warnings - Russia. Another risk is that Sunak’s can-kicking over budgets postpones the serious investment needed in military supplies. Western materiel and equipment are being depleted at a rapid rate on the battlefields of Ukraine, leading to concerns that neither government nor industry have moved to the war-footing required for resupply. Serious discussion of defence spending, procurement and supply will be a new reality for the government for years to come. As prime minister Boris Johnson promised to increase defence spending from an existing 2% to 2.5% of GDP; his successor Liz Truss went further by committing to 3%. The new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is tasked with plotting the UK’s course out of the crisis. Even with prices falling faster than expected, next winter still looks challenging – and energy is likely to remain front and centre of the political agenda well beyond that. Conscription requires young men and women to serve for a limited time in uniform. There would also be concerns about looting, especially if food shortages started to bite. We are definitely inviting China to participate in the summit, at the highest level, at the level of the president of the People’s Republic of China. Ukraine has invited Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, to participate in peace talks, Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s top adviser has said. Because this act of wanton and reckless aggression is an attack not just on Ukraine, it's an attack on democracy and freedom in eastern Europe and around the world. This comes as the US president has been pressing Congress to embrace a bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with aid for Ukraine. Some Republicans have set a deal on border security as a condition for further Ukraine aid. According to reports, Russian missiles on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least 18 people and injured over one hundred. The devastation was felt most acutely in Kharkiv, where an apartment block was hit, killing two people, and injuring 35 residents. From significant rises in petrol and gas prices to the potential for cyberattacks and a financial hit on London’s markets from western sanctions, people in the UK will feel the cost of the conflict. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace branded Russia's actions naked aggression against a democratic country and said no one had been fooled by the Kremlin's false flags and fake narratives. It comes as the UK has said that tougher sanctions against Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine will mean “a much broader range of individuals and businesses can be sanctioned due to their significance to the Kremlin”. The Prime Minister has announced 1,000 more British troops will be put on alert in the UK, however, he said Nato is unwilling to send troops into Ukraine itself. Adm Rob Bauer, who heads the alliance's military committee, said the public needed to change their mindset for an era when anything can happen at any time. Ukrainian protesters gathered outside Downing Street on Thursday afternoon to call for more action from the UK and the international community. Andrey Kelin told Times Radio on Friday that any measure the UK took against Moscow would be met with an equal response, but he refused to give further detail on how this could look. Moscow’s ambassador to London previously warned that the UK would be hit with “immediate retaliation” if it tried to sanction Russia. Ukraine is a country that for decades has enjoyed freedom and democracy and the right to choose its own destiny. It is extremely unlikely that the UK will go to war with Russia any time soon. Russia is continuing to bombard Ukraine with missiles, with heavy fire directed at the city of Kharkiv. When that failed, No.10 sanctioned five Russian banks and three “hit net wealth” individuals. And for every shirker or draft-dodger, others might take pride in national duty, be it manning a machine gun post or cleaning the streets. The Covid lockdown, which saw fights breaking out in queues at supermarkets and garages, was a glimpse of how trouble can spark during times of nationwide panic. There would also be concerns about looting, especially if food shortages started to bite. The decline in manufacturing means there are far fewer factories that can be converted to make arms, as happened in the Second World War, when car makers churned out Spitfire parts. And in a globalised world, many industries that are key in wartime rely on imports. Key bridges could be dynamited, airport runways blocked, and beaches sown with landmines.
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