Russia Moves to Direct Threats Against NATO as Ukraine Needs Offensive Weapons from Partners

Britain is unlikely to send troops to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression.

On December 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the West “has two paths”: to accept Russia’s proposal (agreeing to the condition that Ukraine will not join NATO) or to “deal with a military-technical alternative.” Here are the latest news items on tensions between Russia and Ukraine. 

Russia’s Threats

The Russian Foreign Ministry published a draft treaty on so-called “security guarantees,” whose observance Russian President Vladimir Putin demands from NATO and which Russia handed over to the United States. 

The guarantees drafted by Russia state that Ukraine must not become a NATO member. Moscow wants to discuss this issue exclusively one-on-one with Washington. 

In response, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the Alliance is considering the possibility of dialogue with Russia, but the position of Ukraine must be taken into account.

According to Russia’s deputy foreign minister, a moment of truth has arrived in relations between Russia and NATO, and Moscow’s proposals are aimed at “stepping back from the dangerous line.” He noted that Russia will pursue its goals. 

The draft treaty on so-called “security guarantees” is the “Agreement on Measures to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation and the Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty.” The draft proposes that NATO countries take on obligations excluding any further NATO expansion, in particular the accession of Ukraine. 

Russia also proposes to refrain from “any military activity on the territory of Ukraine.” 

Offensive Weapons

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Kyiv needs assistance from the West in the form of not only defensive but also offensive weapons, because Moscow has plans to unleash a large-scale war. 

After meeting with the Danish Minister of Defence, Reznikov said the threat of a full-scale Russian offensive is real, so Ukraine needs help from partners in the form of weapons. 

Oleksii Reznikov
Defense Minister of Ukraine

What specific assistance do you want from our partners in Denmark? The civilized world has, over these 7.5 years (of Russian aggression against Ukraine — ed.), very often expressed yet another concern. In the 1930s it had already happened, when the League of Nations expressed alarm and concern over Hitler’s aggressive actions. We all know how that tragedy for the world ended. If the Danish government, understanding this, takes a firm position and communicates with partners, including from Alliance and EU countries, and there is real help with weapons and technology for Ukraine, this will stop the aggressor, and he will not go on the offensive. By weapons I mean not only defensive but also offensive ones. Because very pragmatic people live in the Kremlin, they count money very well. If they understand that the price of this offensive, of this aggression, will be prohibitive for them, they will not dare to undertake it. 

Patriot Air Defense Missile Systems

CNN, citing its interlocutors among American officials, reported that Ukraine, amid the threat of a full-scale war with Russia, is asking Washington to provide air defense systems, including Patriot air defense missile systems. 

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged that such deliveries could be perceived by Russia as very provocative. Especially now, when the United States, Europe and NATO are trying to get Moscow to de-escalate. 

At the same time, the United States rules out deploying American troops on the territory of Ukraine. 

Patriot is an American surface-to-air missile system used by the U.S. Army and its allies. It consists of an air-intercept missile and a high-performance missile system. 

Weapons on the Front Line

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) reported that Russian armed formations in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions continue to deploy military equipment near the demarcation lines, which is prohibited under the Minsk agreements. 

“OSCE SMM observers have recorded the deployment in the temporarily occupied territory of 102 units of military equipment of Russian armed formations, deployed in violation of the Minsk agreements. The recorded violations by Russian armed formations indicate that they are creating preconditions for further escalation of tensions on the line of contact, as well as attempts to hide their criminal activity from international observers,” said a statement from the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation. 

In the area of responsibility of the so-called First Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces near Ternove, 34 T-72 tanks, 14 T-64 tanks and 16 armored vehicles were found outside designated weapons storage sites. Four 2S1 self-propelled howitzers and three towed D-30 howitzers were found in violation of withdrawal lines. 

In the Pokrovka area, 15 T-72 tanks, two T-64 tanks, one 2S1 self-propelled howitzer and 13 armored vehicles were recorded. 

Statement by the UK Ministry of Defence

The UK Secretary of State for Defence said that if Russia decides on a full-scale offensive, Ukrainians will have to fight on their own, since it is highly unlikely that Western countries will help Kyiv with their troops. 

According to him, among others, Britain is unlikely to send troops to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. 

Ben Wallace
UK Defence Secretary

It is a fact that she (Ukraine — ed.) is not a NATO member, so it is unlikely that anyone is going to send troops to Ukraine to challenge Russia. We must not deceive people on this matter.