He called for action now to support Ukraine and suggested that a battle to retake Crimea, under Russian occupation, may be coming, writing: “We have a chance to help finish this. The Russian army is cracking.”
Since Russia’s invasion last February, the UK has committed £4.6 billion in military assistance to Ukraine – £2.3 billion in 2022 and the same again for 2023.
The money is spent in a number of ways, including on training Ukrainian soldiers, ammunition, contributions to international Ukrainian defence funds and equipment.
Mr Wallace is understood to have communicated his request for another £2.3 billion in a formal letter to Downing Street ahead of Parliament’s summer recess, having consulted UK military leaders before making the proposal. Number 10 has requested the Ministry of Defence’s views on future spending.
No announcement has been made about military support for next year, with November the earliest an announcement is likely to come as Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, unveils his Autumn Statement.
Mr Biden is facing a battle with Republican congressmen aligned with Mr Trump, the former president, about providing further aid to Ukraine.
He said on Sunday: “We cannot under any circumstances allow America’s support for Ukraine to be interrupted. The vast majority of both parties – Democrats and Republicans, Senate and House – support helping Ukraine. Stop playing games. Get this done.”
