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Europe incapable of aiding Ukraine effectively to defeat Russia: Former British diplomat

Europe incapable of aiding Ukraine effectively to defeat Russia: Former British diplomat
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London, Jun 20 (UNI) Europe does not possess the capability to continue sending military aid to Ukraine on the scale needed by it to defeat Russia, said former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray.

Murray felt that Europe's ever growing defence spending is becoming unsustainable and putting massive strain on its economy.

Speaking to media, Murray said "It’s not sustainable for Europe (to support Ukraine)," he replied when asked whether Europe’s assistance to Kiev is viable in the future.

"Unfortunately, what we’re seeing in the UK in particular, but also in Germany, is a massive economic distortion to prioritise defence spending."

According to the former diplomat, it is common for politicians to prioritise defence spending because it is "the most corrupt industry."

"Europe doesn’t have the ability to supply Ukraine with munitions on the scale needed to attempt to defeat Russia militarily,” he added.

Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Moscow produces as much ammunition in three months as NATO does in a year, reports Sputnik.

Russia has repeatedly stated that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the resolution of the military conflict and make NATO countries a party to the crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for the Russian military.

In the recently concluded G7 summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced additional two billion US Dollars in military assistance to Ukraine. Canada disbursed the first tranche of its contribution, totaling 2.5 billion Dollars, in March 2025. The second tranche, totalling 2.3 billion Dollars, will be disbursed imminently via the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Administered Account for Ukraine.

Canada has been consistently supported Ukraine, it announced a 5 billion USD contribution towards the ERA Loans mechanism at the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy. Through this mechanism the G7 is providing finance to Ukraine that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other jurisdictions.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he could meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky but added that such a meeting will be only at the “final phase” of any negotiations.

The comment came in the amidst of intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and growing concerns that diplomatic efforts are losing steam.

UNI ANV RKM PRS

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