The UK and Ukraine do not want to be at enmity with Russia, but at the same time they are concerned about its military activity on the Ukrainian border. This was announced by British Defense Minister Ben Wallace and Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov on Tuesday, November 16.
"Our governments have no desire to be hostile or to try in any way to strategically surround or undermine the Russian Federation. We are concerned about the strengthening of Russia's military presence and military activity on the border with Ukraine," reads a joint statement published on the website of the British department.
Wallace is currently on a visit to Ukraine.
On November 15, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that the Ukrainian army is in constant readiness to defend itself. Thus, she commented on reports about the allegedly increased activity of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border.
On November 13, the British media reported on London's readiness to send up to 600 troops to Ukraine in case of an "invasion" by Russia. The decision was allegedly made after senior British military officials and the head of MI6, Richard Moore, informed the country's government of a "clear and real danger" for Ukraine and the West.
