Britain is on the brink of another World War just like in 1937 – we must be ready to crush Putin, head of UK army warns | The Sun
BRITAIN is facing its "1937 moment” and must be ready to “fight and win” in a new World War against Russia, the British army chief warned today.
General Sir Patrick Sanders gave a stark warning that our armed forces must be prepared to directly engage Putin in order to prevent the spread of further conflict in Europe – and ward off the threat from Moscow.
In his first public speech as the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Sir Sanders claimed that he has never seen such a clear threat to peace and democracy as that of the "brutal aggression" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At the annual army conference this morning, he said: “In all my years in uniform, I haven’t known such a clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy, and the freedom to live without fear of violence, as the brutal aggression of president Putin and his expansionist ambitions.
“This is our 1937 moment. We are not at war – but must act rapidly so that we aren’t drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war.”
READ MORE ON RUSSIA
Putin will be dead in 2 years as he’s got ‘several illnesses’, claims spy chief
Putin’s 56th colonel and ‘40 soldiers’ killed in strikes using US missiles
Continuing his speech at the The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), he said: “If this battle came, we would likely be outnumbered at the point of attack and fighting like hell.
"Standoff air, maritime or cyber fires are unlikely to dominate on their own – Land will still be the decisive domain.
"And though I bow to no one in my advocacy for the need for game changing digital transformation, to put it bluntly, you can’t cyber your way across a river.
"No single platform, capability, or tactic will unlock the problem.
"Success will be determined by combined arms and multi-domain competence. And mass.”
Most read in World News
'WAR CRIME' 
At least 16 killed in Russian missile strike on mall with 1,000 people inside
Chilling moment toxic gas engulfs port killing 12 and injuring hundreds
Billion dollars of looted Nazi cash in mystery bank account sparks treasure hunt
Mum & daughter, 6, gang-raped in moving car after accepting lift from group
Gen. Sir Sanders also gave a reference to the start of the First War World, saying: “This is not the rush to war at the speed of the railway timetables of 1914”.
Instead, he warned that deterring Russia means: "More of the Army ready more of the time".
This would include anyone from, "the general in (Ministry of Defence) Main Building, to the young lance corporal in the barrack room, from the reservist on a weekend exercise, to the civil servant in Army headquarters".
Speaking at the same event, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace issued a fresh call for increased defence spending in the years to come, in order to counter the growing threat.
This comes after he wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak – ahead of his spring statement in March – saying that UK defence spending was set to drop below the NATO minimum of 2% of GDP by the middle of the decade.
That is unless the Treasury committed more resources.
A defence source said: "The Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister have always said that the Government will respond to any changes in threat which is why in 2020 the Ministry of Defence received a record defence settlement."
The warnings comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to join NATO leaders in Madrid for a summit.
There, they are expected to agree on the biggest overhaul of the Western military alliance since the end of the Cold War.
Meanwhile, Sir Patrick's comparison of Russia's invasion on Ukraine to the rise of Nazi Germany comes after missile hit a crowded shopping centre in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk on Monday.
The strike killed at least 16 civilians, and wounded dozens more.
The leaders of the G7 on Monday night branded the attack "abominable", adding they would hold Putin accountable for war crimes.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the world said: "We, the leaders of the G7, solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a shopping mall in Kremenchuk.
"Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account."
Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, also added: “Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians.
Read More on The Sun
My holiday could be ruined because of a Passport Office error – I’m furious
Parents go wild for Wilko’s £2 buy and it’s perfect for your kids’ birthday
"A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians.
"Russia is a terrorist state."
Source: Read Full Article