In a move that runs contrary to de-escalation efforts, Britain has announced that it will seek to strengthen Ukrainian defenses against Russia: “We have decided to supply Ukraine with light defensive anti-tank weapons.” British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament so on Jan. 17 evening. The first units, he said, had already arrived in Ukraine. A small number of British Army personnel are to train Ukrainian personnel on the weapons system for a short period, he said.
Wallace gave no details on the type or number of weapons being delivered. He said only that “they are not strategic weapons and they pose no threat to Russia. They are for self-defense.” The weapons would have only a short range, Wallace said.
