Britain faces inevitable war with Russia unless it replenishes its stockpile of lethal weapons. Britain’s ability to defend itself against missile attacks is “weak”, the former British army chief has warned.

War with Russia is inevitable unless the UK replenishes stockpiles of lethal weapons and quickly improves its defences, the former British army chief has warned.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, who resigned in June, said that if Britain fails to supply enough weapons to Ukraine, the country could be at war within five years.

Sir Patrick expressed his concerns just weeks after stepping down as chief executive: ‘If we do not replenish and recapitalise what are currently very, very depleted reserves, then we risk conflict becoming inevitable.’

This came after his successor, General Sir Roland Walker, warned that the UK must be prepared for a major war within three years, as he expected Moscow to retaliate against the West for its support for Ukraine.

Sir Patrick also warned that Britain must replenish its missile stockpiles, describing the country’s ability to defend itself in the “unlikely” event of an air attack as “weak”.

General Sir Patrick Sanders, who stepped down as Chief of the Army General Staff in June

Sir Patrick warned last year that Britain’s donation of 14 Challenger 2 tanks (pictured) to Kiev had left “a hole in our arsenal”

Sir Patrick, who has been openly critical of troop cuts during his time as army chief, said more troops were needed, but so were weapons.

This week he said on the Money Maze podcast: “We need to make sure we can operate at scale.

‘That means we have to replenish our supplies, but it also means that the army, which is historically very small at the moment – ​​in an era where we are returning to great-power conflict – can be expanded rapidly.

He warned that it would take us “five to ten years” to achieve this sufficiently.

Sir Patrick warned that Britain must not only deter Russia but will also face emerging threats elsewhere within the next decade.

“There is a risk that a situation will arise where the end of the war in Ukraine, Russia’s recapitalization and China’s declaration that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) must be ready to invade Taiwan in 2027 will pose an acute danger around 2028,” he said.

“The best way to prevent that is to make sure we are prepared to fight, so that we can avert these conflicts and prevent them from happening again in this decade.”

Since Vladimir Putin’s forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has pledged £7.6 billion in military aid.

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a casualty simulation exercise conducted by the British Armed Forces, as part of the Interflex programme, in the south of England, on August 22, 2024

The UK government is expected to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of national income by 2030, a move that would mean tens of billions of pounds of extra funding, in a bid to strengthen the military at a time of increasing global threats.

Sir Patrick warned last year that Britain’s donation of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Kiev had left “a hole in our arsenal”, leaving the armed forces “temporarily weaker”.

But he has been steadfast in his support for Kiev, saying this week that the focus should now be on “making sure Ukraine can win”.

“It’s not just about surviving on the battlefield, which is probably all we’re doing right now,” the 58-year-old said.

“It is about posing unacceptable threats to Russia, which will force Russia and Putin to reconsider their position.”

Ukrainian President Zelensky this week accused Britain of “watering down” support for Ukraine by demanding it remove “barriers” to his country’s fight against Russia.

Britain has taken delivery of long-range Storm Shadow missiles (pictured)

Zelensky has been responsible for a Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in recent weeks, which he says is intended to create a buffer zone to prevent further cross-border attacks from Moscow.

Britain has given the green light for the use of British-donated weapons on Russian soil as part of Ukraine’s self-defense.

The only exception is the Storm Shadow missiles, which are off-limits outside Ukraine’s borders, but Zelensky said “long-range missiles” are “essential.”

His team claims that easing British restrictions on the use of weapons could “turn the tide of the war”.