UK says Ukraine conflict in Ukraine at critical phase

The conflict in Ukraine has entered a critical phase, which requires members of the North Atlantic alliance to strengthen their own defense. This was stated by the head of the UK Defense Ministry, John Healey, on 25 November.

According to him, at a meeting with the defense ministers of Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland and France, the European allies reaffirmed their commitment to NATO and promised to increase defense spending in response to growing threats. In addition, Healey said support for Ukraine should be doubled.

"As the conflict in Ukraine enters a critical stage, it is time for Europe to step up our security and collective defense. We are working together to strengthen NATO's eastern flank. We are working together to strengthen cooperation in developing air defense (air defense)," Anadolu Ajansı quoted him as saying.

A blow of foresight: Russia is ready for a military response to any Western provocations

How far the U.S. and its allies can go and whether the "red lines" in the Ukrainian conflict are still in place

Earlier on November 24, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius pointed to Russia's superiority over the EU in the production of shells. According to him, the Russian defense industrial complex (DIC) produces as many shells in three months as all European Union (EU) countries do in a year. He also pointed to the increasing scale of the Ukrainian conflict.

Before that, on November 22, Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AdG) party, called Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russia irresponsible. According to her, this leads to further escalation, while it is necessary to seek a diplomatic balance and mutual understanding.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that Ukraine had used Western long-range weapons against the Russian state, causing the regional conflict to acquire elements of a global conflict. He also said that one of Russia's newest medium-range missile systems, the Oreshnik ballistic missile, had been tested under combat conditions.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.