[ad_1]
The Ukraine conflict could last “a number of years” and the UK needs to be “prepared for a very long haul” in facing down Russian aggression, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has told Sky News.
Speaking to the Trevor Phillips On Sunday show, Ms Truss praised the “very, very strong and brave” Ukrainian resistance against Russian forces moving through their country.
“This could be a number of years because what we do know is Russia has strong forces,” she said.
“But we know that the Ukrainians are brave, they’re determined to stand up for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and they’re determined to fight.”
‘Brutal’ night for Ukraine with Russians ‘attacking everything including ambulances’ – live updates
The foreign secretary warned that Western sanctions on Moscow “will take time to have an effect and debilitate the Russian economy”.
“This is not going to be, I fear, over quickly,” she added. “We need to be prepared for a very long haul.”
Ms Truss expressed her fear that fighting in Ukraine could be “very, very bloody” amid concerns among Western officials that Russia could soon deploy themobaric weapons against its neighbour.
The so-called “vacuum bombs” suck in oxygen to create powerful, high-temperature explosions which can damage internal organs.
“We do need to be prepared for Russia to seek to use even worse weapons,” she said.
And the foreign secretary suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin could use “the most unsavoury means” as the cost of the conflict racks up.
“We’ve already seen the response from the Russian government, we’ve seen the actions taken despite all the warnings about the severe cost of this conflict – in terms of humanitarian costs, in terms of costs for the Russian state,” she said.
“This could well be the beginning of the end for Putin and I fear that he is determined to…
[ad_2]
Source : skynews
