Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning to Britain over Russia, urging the UK to ramp up defence spending “before it is too late” as fears of a wider war grow. In an intervention ahead of the Budget, the Ukrainian President called on Chancellor John Healey to make military spending his top priority, warning that Vladimir Putin's ambitions extend far beyond Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky said Britain must decide whether it can trust Moscow, adding that the consequences of failing to prepare could be far more costly in the future. He said: “Can the United Kingdom trust Russia or not? If not, defence needs to be 100% the priority.” He added: “My advice to John is don’t delay. Sorry John… but it’s important to be direct.”
Warning on Russian ambitions
Referring to Mr Putin, Mr Zelensky said: “He’s testing everything and testing everybody. The danger of Russia is bigger than Ukraine. Much bigger.” The warning was delivered in an exclusive interview with The Sun from his fortified headquarters in Kyiv, as Russian attacks on Ukraine continued and concerns mounted over Britain's military readiness.
Mr Healey, who quit as Defence Secretary over former PM Sir Keir Starmer’s failure to increase military spending as a proportion of GDP, was expected to promise a “down-payment” on reaching 3% by 2030. However, the Government, now led by Andy Burnham, has delayed publishing a detailed plan to meet its NATO defence spending commitment until next autumn.
Air defence concerns
Mr Zelensky warned that Europe’s air defences remained weak and urged Britain to invest in the military infrastructure needed to counter the Russian threat. He said: “You need to build your military and tactical facilities and rebuild a lot of different things. Air defence is weak in Europe, not only in the UK.”
An ally of Mr Healey told The Sun: “John’s going to fund the Defence Investment Plan in full today, which is critical for protecting us and Ukraine.”
Pressure on Moscow
The warning comes amid growing tensions over US President Donald Trump’s approach to the war, with Mr Zelensky urging Western leaders to put greater pressure on Moscow. He criticised what he sees as Washington’s reluctance to confront Mr Putin, saying Ukraine needs stronger backing from its allies. Mr Zelensky said: “We need more support — there is no pressure on Russia.”
He also warned that the Kremlin leader’s objectives went beyond the battlefield in Ukraine, accusing him of seeking to occupy the country and destroy its identity. Mr Zelensky said: “Putin’s personal attitude to Ukraine is that he hates us. He thinks that all our territory is his territory and his personal goal is to occupy it and to destroy it.”
His intervention comes as Ukraine faces relentless Russian attacks, including strikes on energy infrastructure that threaten to leave civilians facing another harsh winter. Mr Zelensky has repeatedly warned that any pause in diplomatic efforts risks giving Russia more time to continue its assault, urging Western leaders to move quickly if they genuinely want to force Moscow towards a ceasefire, arguing that words alone would not be enough.
