The plans of Russia to capture four Ukrainian regions - Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk - by 2025 reflect the "weakness" of the Kremlin.
This was stated by the head of the UK Ministry of Defence in a comment to NV.
"They [the Russians] believed their invasion would last a week. And here we are: a country that has been fighting for over a thousand days, while Putin has taken a strategic step back in Syria. This is a signal for any country that views Russia as a sort of guarantor, a strategic ally, and a partner in security matters - when the stakes are highest, Putin simply pulls out," he emphasized.
Gili added that the UK will continue to enhance support for Ukraine, particularly through the provision of maritime drones, air defense systems, and artillery. In 2025, support will increase even further due to collaboration in the defense industry and training for Ukrainian military personnel. At the same time, Britain intends to work more actively on sanctions against the Kremlin and to intensify pressure on Russia to place Putin in an even weaker position.
"And we are also prepared to ramp up sanctions and the pressure we are willing to exert on Putin and those responsible for circumventing sanctions, on the fleets of ships that help evade international condemnation and oil and gas embargoes," stated the UK Defence Minister.
Source: nv.