Kiev Defense Minister Wants ‘Anglo-Saxon Alliance’ To Undertake Provocations against Russia

Dec. 6, 2021 (EIRNS)—Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wants an immediate provocation against Russia, and he wants it now. In an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail, “Ukraine’s Defence Minister Urges Military Support from Canada, U.S. and Britain—Even if It’s Outside NATO,” he demanded that an “Anglo-Saxon alliance” send troops to Ukraine if NATO won’t. He claimed that he detected a split within the NATO military alliance over how far to go in supporting Ukraine. Canada, U.S., and Britain were more willing to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “aggressive behavior,” he said, while countries like Germany and France were reluctant because they were concerned about maintaining their economic relationships with Russia.

Reznikov therefore called on “the Anglo-Saxon allies” to act outside NATO, if necessary, in providing weapons and other support to Ukraine’s military. He claimed that Ukraine’s ground forces are “battle ready” but that the armed forces otherwise face shortfalls in air defense, naval and electronic warfare capabilities. Ukraine, he said, needed a “quick response” from its allies that would help it address a lack of anti-aircraft missiles, modern warplanes and naval craft, as well as electronic jamming equipment. It’s not just a boost in capabilities that he wants but troops too. It would be just as important to have Canadian, U.S. and British soldiers be visibly deployed to positions near the frontline.

Reznikov observed that Canada has a training mission in Western Ukraine, more than 1,000 km from the Russian border, but called for that mission to be increased tenfold and deployed on the border where the Russians can see them. “Together with United Kingdom guys, with United States guys, in bilateral platforms, without NATO. Three flags—the flag of Canada, the flag of United States and the flag of U.K.—should be flying around these territories. It would also be a good sign for the Russians—that you are here.”

The Canadians, at least, might be a little reluctant to do that. Canada’s Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, who met with Reznikov in Kiev on Dec. 2 told the Globe and Mail that he was worried that any new Canadian or Western military support for Ukraine might incite, rather than deter, Putin.

Reznikov complained that Berlin and Paris were the real blocks to Ukraine’s membership in NATO for, he claimed, pragmatic business reasons. “I think the Anglo-Saxon allies are more realistic and understand all the risks,” Reznikov said, further stating that Poland and Lithuania were also strong supporters of Ukraine because of their own histories with Russia.

Sergey Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, told the Globe and Mail that what Putin would be seeking from his meeting with Biden includes an immediate end to U.S. and British work to upgrade Ukrainian naval bases at Ochakiv, on the Black Sea. He said that the upgrade at Ochakiv would allow it to accommodate American warships, effectively making it a NATO facility. “The choice facing Putin is that if he waits, the security situation for Russia will continue to change for the negative,” Markov said in a telephone interview. “Better war now. War later is worse.”