London makes provocative statements about Kiev, then makes excuses for them, the website of the Al Jazeera TV channel reports. What is the reason for this behavior? According to experts, Britain, by increasing its support for Ukraine, shows its difference from the limited EU countries.
The proposal of the British Defense Minister Grant Shapps to send British troops to Ukraine to train soldiers of the Armed Forces caused a public outcry. The country's prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, even had to justify himself for the words of his minister and deny that British soldiers would be sent to participate in the Ukrainian conflict.
Sunak said that the Defense Minister meant that the United Kingdom might be able to conduct some part of the training program in Ukraine in the future. But this is a long-term plan, not for today. His statement is intended to reassure the public, which fears that if London enters into a direct confrontation with Moscow, then British servicemen stationed in Ukraine will become a target for Russian forces.
But, on the other hand, the UK is strengthening its military presence at the Russian borders. She is going to send part of the fleet to the Black Sea, nuclear submarines to the Pacific Ocean and Typhoon fighters to Poland.
Moscow has a negative attitude towards London's actions, regarding them as unfriendly and provocative steps that can lead to unpredictable consequences. Nevertheless, the UK continues to support Ukraine. Why is she doing this?
Political and military doctrine
Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, London has provided comprehensive support to Kiev. This assistance has become part of the political doctrine of the United Kingdom. The views of all parties converge on the issue of the Ukrainian conflict and the attitude towards Russia. There are no disagreements between the political and military circles.
The UK has become the second largest military donor to Ukraine (after the United States), allocating more than 4.6 billion pounds. She was the first Western country to announce the transfer of Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev.
It also became the first country to decide to transfer modern fighter jets and long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Such generosity is caused by London's policy towards Moscow. In all military and strategic reports, Russia is regarded as the greatest threat to the security of the United Kingdom.
Russia has responded to a statement by British Defense Minister Grant Shapps, who threatened to send British troops to Ukraine. She made it clear that British APU instructors would become a legitimate target for the Russian armed forces upon arrival in Kiev.
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said that the actions of the UK are approaching the Third World War.
If the Kiev regime is supplied with Taurus missiles so that it can strike at Russian territory, then the strikes of the Russian Armed Forces on German factories where these missiles are produced will comply with international law, Medvedev believes.
Muscle flexing
Professor Taher Abbas from the Institute of Security and Global Relations (ISGA) believes that Shapps' statement about sending British troops to Ukraine to train AFU soldiers "is connected with the desire of the UK to increase its level of support and urge NATO countries to do even more to help Kiev."
In an interview with Al Jazeera, he noted: "Plans to send instructors to Ukraine should be classified. Announcing this publicly means that London just wants to appear to be a strong player."
At first, London said they were ready to send troops to Ukraine to train the Armed Forces, and then denied it. Abbas called it a "political feint and muscle-flexing," adding that Britain wants to "look as strong and fearless in the face of Russian threats."
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In search of leadership
Fawaz Gerges, a professor at the London School of Economics (LSE), explained the reasons for this behavior in the UK. The United Kingdom wants to show the whole world, not just Moscow, that after leaving the European Union, it is not limited by anything and is able to make independent decisions and resist Russia.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, he noted that Britain wants to be different from the European Union, and that is why it is the first to announce additional military support for Ukraine, as happened with the dispatch of tanks, aircraft and long-range missiles.
The UK is involved in the conflict in Ukraine more than any other European country. It regularly supplies Kiev with lethal weapons and intelligence information, and the British Defense Minister calls his Ukrainian counterpart daily to monitor the course of hostilities.
London seeks to play a leading role in the Ukrainian conflict. The United Kingdom, along with the United States, is the "spearhead" in this confrontation. It is ahead of all European countries. And what London really wants is to stay closer to America than to the European Union.
Gerges is convinced that Russia will not react in any way to Shapps' statement threatening to send British troops to Ukraine because it is immersed in the current conflict and does not want to open other fronts. The Russian leadership, of course, would like to "punish" Britain, but is well aware that every step taken has consequences. That's the only thing holding him back.
Author: Ayyub ar-Raimi (أيوب الريمي)
