Rishi Sunak says UK weapons being well used in Ukraine

Rishi Sunak warns Putin is now ‘dependent’ on China as he dismisses fears about UK weapons stocks being depleted by Ukraine war – saying their purpose is to ‘degrade’ Russian forces

Rishi Sunak today warned that Vladimir Putin is now ‘dependent’ on China – as he dismissed fears about UK weapons stocks being depleted by the Ukraine war.

Appearing before the cross-party Commons Liaison Committee, the PM insisted the weapons were being used for their intended purpose of degrading Russia’s forces.

Mr Sunak also said that the recent summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping was more evidence that Moscow was reliant on China.

The comments came as British-supplied Challenger 2 tanks were poised to begin combat missions in Ukraine.

Appearing before the Liaison Committee this afternoon, Rishi Sunak dismissed fears about UK weapons stocks being depleted by the Ukraine war

The comments came as British-supplied Challenger 2 tanks were poised to begin combat missions in Ukraine

Mr Sunak also warned that the recent summit between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping showed how ‘dependent’ Moscow had become on China

The PM said: ‘I would not necessarily see it as a negative that our own stockpiles have been drawn down, for the simple fact that if you think about what are those weapons for, they were ultimately there to degrade and deter – primarily – Russian aggression.

He defended the level of funding allocated to the Ministry of Defence to rebuild stockpiles.

Almost £2billion has been allocated over two years to replenish munitions and strengthen supply chains.

‘They are being used to do exactly that, they are just being used by the Ukrainians.

‘So, in one sense, even though the stockpiles are lower, they are being used for the purpose for which they are intended and degrading the capabilities of an adversary in the process.’

Mr Sunak also questioned the credibility of a Chinese peace plan for Ukraine, arguing that Xi Jinping should speak directly to Volodymyr Zelensky.

He urged Mr Xi to use his influence over Mr Putin to push for an end to the invasion.

‘It’s clear that Russia is dependent on China,’ Mr Sunak said, and ‘we would ask President Xi to use his influence with Putin to urge him to end this war and withdraw from Ukraine as a precondition to any negotiations’.

In Ukraine, defence minister Oleksii Reznikov said the ‘fantastic’ Challenger 2 tanks have ‘recently’ arrived in the country.

The UK promised 14 of the vehicles to Ukraine, a move which helped persuade other Western nations to supply their own tanks to aid the fight against the Russian invasion.

Mr Reznikov posted a video on social media showing him taking one of the Challenger 2s ‘for a spin’ in Ukraine.

He thanked the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, adding: ‘These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions.’

Ukrainian tank crews trained in the UK on the vehicles, which are being donated by the Government along with ammunition and spares.

Mr Wallace said the crews ‘return to their homeland better equipped, but to no less danger’.

Russia has condemned the UK’s move and predicted the tanks would ‘burn’ on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Mr Putin has also reacted to the UK’s decision to supply depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds for the tanks in Ukraine by announcing plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

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