Ben Wallace has told President Vladimir Putin not to test Britain, and warned Russian that ‘history is littered’ with despots who underestimated the UK and the West.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Wallace said the West ‘must not be afraid of Putin’.
He warned the Russian leader – who he said was ‘acting irrationally and inflicting horrors on Ukraine’ – not to ‘test’ the UK.
‘The thing to say to Putin is don’t underestimate us, don’t test us,’ he told the newspaper.
‘History is littered with authoritarian leaders underestimating the wider West and the United Kingdom. He clearly underestimated the international community.’ He added: ‘If we stick together and refuse to be intimidated then I believe he will fail.’
Ben Wallace (pictured) has told President Vladimir Putin not to test Britain, and warned Russian that ‘history is littered’ with despots who underestimated the UK and the West
Mr Wallace’s comments come after increasing warnings that intervention in the war in Ukraine by the West would be considered as entering the conflict by the Kremlin.
On Saturday, a defiant Putin called the West’s economic, diplomatic and cultural boycott of the country tantamount to a declaration of war.
He also warned that his regime would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone as ‘participation in the armed conflict’.
In an astonishing display of sabre-rattling, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned London: ‘Russia will not forget Britain’s desire to co-operate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime’.
She added: ‘The sanctions hysteria in which London plays one of the leading, if not the main, roles, leaves us no choice but to take proportionately tough retaliatory measures. London has made a final choice of open confrontation with Russia.
‘Such a development convinces us once more that Russophobia and the aim to undermine the Russian state are integral elements of Britain’s foreign policy.’
On the possibility of a no-fly zone, Mr Putin said Russia would view ‘any move in this direction’ as an intervention that ‘will pose a threat to our service members’.
‘That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are,’ he said.
However, Ukraine has repeatedly said the move is the only way to stop more deaths.
On Saturday, a defiant Putin (pictured) called the West’s economic, diplomatic and cultural boycott of the country tantamount to a declaration of war
NATO allies have ruled out implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid fears it could prompt an all-out war with nuclear-armed Russia.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, in an interview with the Sunday Express, said the Ukrainian conflict was the ‘struggle of our generation’.
She said: ‘We will continue to support them (the Ukrainians) through thick and thin. We are there for the long haul.
‘This is the struggle of our generation. What we are seeing taking place on the streets of Europe is something we have never experienced before in my lifetime. It is the fight for freedom and democracy, and sovereignty and self-determination.’
Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson heaped praise on the response of the British public to the war in Ukraine as he echoed the view that Mr Putin would fail.
The Prime Minister said it was ‘absolutely vital that Vladimir Putin understands that this hideous, barbarous assault cannot succeed and that he will fail’.
In a video message on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: ‘I want to thank businesses, community groups, individuals, sports clubs, who’ve been coming together to support Ukraine.
‘I think of the group in Northern Ireland that’s got a local warehouse as a centre for supplies to go to the war zone, I think of Inna Schorr, a London-based Ukrainian who’s raising thousands of pounds, while her own family are still back in Ukraine.
‘And don’t forget to for all Ukrainian families here in in the UK, we have ways that you can bring your wider relatives back to the UK.’
Demonstrators hold a banner and a Ukranian national flag as they gather in Trafalgar square in central London on March 5, 2022 to take part in a rally to show their support for Ukraine and to protest against Russia’s invasion of the country
British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, alongside with Danish Minister of Defence Morten Boedskov and his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist greets some of the crew members during a visit at the Danish frigate Niels Juel in Copenhagen, Denmark March 4
The money raised by the Mail Force charity – in record-breaking time – has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers
More than £85 million has now been raised to provide aid for Ukraine through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), in what has been described as an ‘absolutely incredible’ show of support from the UK public.
The Government has pledged to match public donations to the appeal pound-for-pound up to £25 million.
Mr Johnson’s thank you message came as hundreds of people gathered in cities across the country to protest against Russia’s assault on Ukraine.
In London’s Trafalgar Square, the Ukrainian national anthem was sung and ‘stop Putin, stop the war’ chanted, as demonstrators draped themselves in the country’s flag.
Volodymyr Shevetovskyy, 31, and his girlfriend Nadiia Soshenko, 27, from Kyiv, said they were grateful for support from western countries but called for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.
Ms Soshenko told the PA news agency: ‘There are already a lot of deaths in our country.
‘Nato is afraid to close the skies saying that they’re afraid to start the third world war.
‘Excuse me, what’s happening right now? Why the whole world can’t stop one insane, mad person? I just honestly do not understand why our people are dying, are dying for what?’
Earlier on Saturday, it had been announced a temporary ceasefire had been called in order for civilians in Mariupol, a strategic port in the south east, and the eastern city of Volnovakha, to escape the fighting.
However, this failed to hold, with Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko claiming thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were departing when shelling began.
Mr Putin accused Ukraine of sabotaging the evacuation.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the proposed ceasefire was ‘likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its force for renewed offensive activity’.
In an intelligence update on Saturday afternoon, the MoD said: ‘By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city.’
The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline UKRAINE REFUGEE APPEAL
Readers of Mail Newspapers and MailOnline have always shown immense generosity at times of crisis.
Calling upon that human spirit, we are now launching an appeal to raise money for refugees from Ukraine.
For, surely, no one can fail to be moved by the heartbreaking images and stories of families – mostly women, children, the infirm and elderly – fleeing from Russia’s invading armed forces.
As this tally of misery increases over the coming days and months, these innocent victims of a tyrant will require accommodation, schools and medical support.
All donations to the Mail Ukraine Appeal will be distributed to charities and aid organisations providing such essential services.
In the name of charity and compassion, we urge all our readers to give swiftly and generously.
TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE
Donate at www.mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate
To add Gift Aid to a donation – even one already made – complete an online form found here: mymail.co.uk/ukraine
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Account name: Mail Force Charity
Account number: 48867365
Sort code: 60-00-01
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Make your cheque payable to ‘Mail Force’ and post it to: Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal, GFM, 42 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex CO2 8JY
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