It is the second country, after the United States, that has given the most military support to kyiv since the Russian invasion began. This decision is a State measure that overcomes partisan political interests and the cost of living crisis.
The year 2022 was the most politically unstable the United Kingdom has had in several decades, dominated by the passage of three prime ministers. However, the unrestricted political, economic and military support for Ukraine was the only factor of consensus.
In fact, the political and stylistic differences between Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and the current ‘premier’, Rishi Sunak, seem to disappear when it comes to supporting Ukraine.
UK support intensified with the first indications that Vladimir Putin might be preparing an invasion.
Since then, he has led a campaign, not just in Europe, for the most powerful countries to contribute resources to help Ukraine emerge victorious.
The senior analyst of the Royal United Service Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI), Carlos Solar, defined the support of the United Kingdom as “fundamental”.
“Since day one it has committed very important resources. This country came from a period of military austerity, in which the budgets were being reviewed, and clearly the war is coming to hit Europe. It’s a call to action.”
Solar highlights that the continuity of Defense Minister Ben Wallace in three different cabinets is significant and a guarantee of this military and political support.
“The bipartisan support, both from Conservatives and Labor, has been essential to face the threat of what Russia could mean, not respecting International Law, invading its smaller neighbor.”
Popular support in times of economic crisis
The UK is the second largest donor to the war, after the US.
According to the British Government, this economic aid exceeds, so far, 2,300 million pounds sterling and has committed more resources.
The impact of the war translates internally into the skyrocketing prices of both electricity and food bills.
The YouGov pollster, in an investigation from September 2022, affirms that 74% of the British believe that the war in Ukraine is the origin of the current economic crisis.
This cost of living crisis and the constant strikes in different sectors of public services have complicated the governance of Sunak.
Aggravated by the projection of the International Monetary Fund of a possible economic recession during 2023.
In a bid to prevent Putin from taking over more European territory, the United Kingdom has left on the table that political, diplomatic and especially economic support for Ukraine seems non-negotiable.
An Ipsos poll, in January 2023, found that 8 in 10 Britons believe that “doing nothing now will encourage Russia to take more military action in Europe and Asia.”
operation survive
The training of Ukrainian troops by the British military is not a novelty brought about by the Russian invasion.
These uniformed officers have been training Ukrainian soldiers since 2015, after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.
Over five weeks at various confidential locations in England, the troops, mostly civilians with no military experience, learn basic combat techniques, trench fighting, honing range marksmanship and first aid.
A general in the British Military Forces told France 24 that the aim of this training is for Ukrainian soldiers to “survive, fight and beat Russia.”
Military from other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Norway also participate in this training that starts with the basics: handling a weapon.
It is the first lesson for civilians who joined the Ukrainian Army to defend their country.
“We are seeing good progress. The soldiers are doing very well. We are impressed by his training, ”Kris, a Swedish instructor, tells France 24.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, in the last six months, 10,000 soldiers have been trained in this programme, which already includes teaching how to operate Challenger 2 tanks.
It is projected that by 2023, another 20,000 soldiers will be trained in England.
While Sunak has promised that, in the future, the British will train fighter jet pilots and marines.
Wings to “achieve freedom”
In his lightning visit to England, President Volodímir Zelenski asked the allied countries for planes to tip the balance of the war in his favor.
Soler foresees that, before any country gives the green light to those fighter jets, there will be a geopolitical debate similar to the one that preceded the delivery of tanks.
“It’s going to be a series of decisions, not only that the UK is going to have to negotiate within its security alliances, but it’s also going to have to negotiate with those behind the specific components of each of the aircraft that it may need. Ukraine”, highlights Solar.
Rishi Sunak has said that when it comes to Ukraine, nothing is off the table. Therefore, he asked the defense minister to investigate what kind of planes could be sent to war.
Meanwhile, the former prime ministers, who preceded Sunak just a few months ago, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, asked their government for these planes to be delivered urgently.
