WAR IN UKRAINE
Ben Wallace: UK must step up and pledge new funding for Ukraine
Former defence secretary criticises No 10’s silence on military aid
Ben Wallace says Britain risks losing its leading role as an ally to Ukraine
INTS KALNINS/REUTERS
Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, has said that No 10 should “put its money where its mouth is” and urgently commit to more military funding for Ukraine.
Funding is due to run out in March and the UK risks losing its leading role in helping Ukraine unless more money is announced, he warned.
The government has been under pressure from Conservative and Labour MPs since November’s autumn statement to guarantee billions of pounds in aid to Ukraine.
Ministers have privately played down the government’s silence, with a Whitehall source saying that this year’s funding was expected to be about the same as last year’s, which was £2.3 billion. The source suggested that Rishi Sunak, the prime minister, was waiting for a big moment, such
