Britain has ‘run out of defence equipment to donate to Ukraine’ and ‘given away all we can afford’, military source warns

Britain has run out of defense equipment to donate to Ukraine, a senior military chief has claimed, as he urged other countries to step up and provide more support.

The military official said Ukraine now needs “air defense assets and artillery ammunition” in the next phase of the war – supplies that Britain has now “dried up on.”

“We gave away everything we could afford,” the source said The Daily Telegraph.

It comes after former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace urged the Prime Minister to increase military aid to Ukraine by more than £2 billion – a 50 per cent increase.

The veteran Conservative argued that with additional Western weapons, Kiev could “end” the fight against Russia and drive out the invaders.

Commenting on Wallace’s plea for further aid, the source said it should not be up to Britain to be the one to provide the “billions” in military aid needed as they warned of depleted supplies.

Defense Minister Ben Wallace will then address the media during his visit to the Tapa Military Camp in Estonia on Thursday, January 19.

“Giving billions more does not mean giving billions more in British equipment,” the source told the Telegraph, before stating that Britain should “encourage other countries to give more money and weapons.”

The military chief said Britain is already giving away as much as we can afford.

To write for The Daily Telegraph On Sunday, Wallace – who resigned from the defense post in a mini reshuffle in August – lamented that Britain was no longer Kiev’s biggest military backer in Europe after slipping behind Germany.

Wallace’s call to send additional resources to Ukraine comes as debate grows in the West over the level of support the partially occupied country should continue to provide.

On Monday, aid to Ukraine was left out of the US emergency budget bill, potentially draining the country’s power in the fight against the Russian invasion that began last February.

Democrats hope to pass a separate relief measure in the coming days, although it is unclear whether such a package would include the $24 billion that President Joe Biden originally requested.

The election of a pro-Russian party in neighboring Slovakia also dealt Kiev a new blow this week, as the country continues to quarrel with Poland over grain supplies.

Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training at Bovington Camp, a British Army military base, pose with a Ukrainian flag, February 22

An Ajax Ares armored vehicle, on the training range of Bovington Camp, a British Army military base where Ukrainian soldiers undergo training, February 22

Downing Street was forced to reiterate the British government’s commitment to Ukraine after Wallace’s plea.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Britain’s involvement in Ukraine will not ‘waver’ as Downing Street plays down Western divisions.

“Our commitment to Ukraine is steadfast and will not waver. You will continue to see substantial support from us,” the spokesperson said.

Asked about the political wrangling over Kiev’s funding in other countries, the official said: ‘Clearly it is up to each country to decide what they think is an appropriate level of support for them.

“But collectively I don’t think there has been a step backwards in support for Ukraine. And in my view, for a significant period of this illegal war, (Vladimir) Putin is facing a strong alliance of countries that are increasingly supportive of the Ukrainian efforts.”

Britain has so far continued to provide military support to Ukraine in the form of both ammunition and military training.

More than 23,500 recruits from Ukraine have received combat training at army bases in the UK since early 2022, receiving instruction in skills such as weapon handling and battlefield first aid. Earlier this year, the British government pledged to train a further 20,000 recruits.

The training is part of a broader support package for Ukraine, including a commitment of 2.3 billion pounds ($2.8 billion) in anti-tank weapons, missile systems and other hardware this year.

Ukrainian soldiers of the Spartan Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine stand in a shelter on the front line, amid the Russian attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhia, September 13

Grant Shapps arrives at Downing Street where he is asked by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to serve as Defense Secretary, August 31

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, who took over as defense secretary from Wallace, said he also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in recent days about the British Royal Navy helping to defend commercial ships in the Black Sea. He did not provide details.

He added that British defense companies should consider setting up production in Ukraine.

‘Especially in the west of the country, I think there is now an opportunity to bring more things to the country, and not just training. For example, we see BAE moving into manufacturing in the country,” he said, referring to the leading British defense and aerospace manufacturer.

‘I would like to see other British companies also play their part by doing the same.’