London. January 27. INTERFAX - British Defense Minister Ben Wallace will soon meet with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, BBC News reports.
According to the portal's journalists, the head of the British Defense Ministry confirmed to them that he would soon go to Moscow for talks with the Russian Defense Minister.
According to the media, Wallace said that there is still a "chance" to stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, he added that he was "not optimistic."
"It is important that we have a strong voice on sanctions, so that the Russians know that we are seriously thinking about the consequences and are ready to act," Wallace was quoted as saying by The Times.
At the moment, the British Defense Minister is making a diplomatic trip to Europe to convince allies to support tough sanctions against Russia and send deadly weapons to Ukraine.
According to The Times, citing a source in the Ministry of Defense, Wallace's trip is devoted to discussing ways to "do more" to help Ukraine.
According to the publication, the Netherlands, which Wallace visited in the first place, is now considering sending sniper rifles, anti-tank missile systems and helmets to Ukraine.
"It should be justified as a means of protection," a military source said.
According to The Times source in the Ministry of Defense, Wallace, during a meeting with his German counterpart Christina Lambrecht, said that Nord Stream 2 should be used as a "lever of pressure" on the Kremlin.
"What we want from Germany as Europe's largest economy is a stronger signal about sanctions," Wallace was quoted as saying by The Times.
According to him, Nord Stream 2 is a real lever of pressure that the West should use for the benefit of the whole of Europe.
According to media reports, next week the British Defense Minister will visit Slovakia and Hungary to discuss how the allies can respond to the crisis unfolding on the border of Ukraine with Russia.
Britain and other NATO allies are considering a US request to deploy hundreds of additional troops to support member countries in Eastern Europe ahead of any Russian invasion or attack on Ukraine.
