Britain warned Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the West will not be distracted from its steadfast support for Ukraine by the atrocities committed in Israel.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps stressed it would be a “massive mistake” for the Russian president to believe that the horrors in the Middle East meant he would get a “free hand” to pursue his war which has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians.
“I’m actually in Brussels today to meet with about 50 countries all of who sit full square behind Ukraine,” he told GB News.
“One of the things we are very determined to do today is ensure that not withstanding problems elsewhere in the world, and of course this horrific terrorism in Israel, we will not lose sight of and will not be forgetting what is happening right here in Europe.
“It would be a massive mistake for Putin to imagine for one moment that the world’s attention is in any way distracted and that should somehow give him a free hand.”
Mr Shapps announced that a British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields.
Britain’s defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was “now the most mined country on earth,” which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing capabilities were essential to help it push forward.
The package will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine - a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
Mr Shapps was attending his first NATO-Ukraine Council, where he is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza crisis and reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky was in Belgium, local news agency Belga reported, where NATO defence ministers will discuss issues of concern beyond the war in Ukraine, including damage to a subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable linking NATO members Finland and Estonia reported on Tuesday.
