Defence Secretary John Healey has warned Vladimir Putin that he is 'Christmas crackers' if he thinks he can threaten Britain, as he insisted the Russian president would never win in Ukraine. Speaking at Merville Barracks in Colchester, Mr Healey told The Mirror that a peace deal had never been closer, and that the UK was investing millions to ensure British troops are ready to mobilise 'on day one' of any agreement.
Mr Healey's comments come amid escalating threats from Russia, including cyber-attacks, disinformation, and threats to global shipping lanes. He noted that the UK had faced 90,000 cyber-attacks this year alone, a significant proportion from Russia. 'Putin needs to know that if he threatens the UK we are ready,' he said. 'I would say he’s Christmas crackers if he thinks he’s going to threaten Britain.'
The Defence Secretary also highlighted the importance of a potential peace deal, describing it as 'the greatest gift' Ukrainians could have for Christmas. He confirmed that the UK, alongside France, would lead a multinational force to secure any peace agreement. 'We're investing millions right now to make sure British forces are ready to move on day one,' he said.
Mr Healey stressed that the conflict in Ukraine was not just about one country's freedom, but about wider European security. 'If Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop at Ukraine,' he warned. 'We see him escalating his aggression more widely to NATO nations like ours.'
Earlier this month, the head of Britain's armed forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, warned that the nation's 'sons and daughters' need to be ready to fight in a war with Russia. Mr Healey said the defence chief was making a 'deeper' argument about the need for greater societal support for the armed forces. 'In this new era of threat, it requires not just government to step up... it requires industry to step up... but it also needs society to strengthen its support for our forces,' he said.
Finally, Mr Healey thanked the more than 7,000 troops stationed overseas and those in the UK who will be on duty over Christmas, including bomb disposal units ready to move within ten minutes. 'It’s a special thank you to them for that service,' he said.
