A BOURNEMOUTH MP has moved to discourage UK citizens from travelling to Ukraine to fight, believing untrained volunteers would get themselves killed.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood, disagreed with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss’ comments that she would “absolutely” support ordinary UK nationals fighting alongside Ukrainians in their war against Russia.
The government’s defence select committee chair, Mr Ellwood said while it was “great to see” the UK “waking up” to the realities of the war in eastern Europe he implored untrained Britons to think twice before partaking in combat.
He said: “To those thinking about becoming new recruits I would stress that war is violent and it’s so easy to make a mistake that could get yourself and others around you killed.
The Ukrainian President stands firm and calls for OUR help.
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) February 26, 2022
Aside from supplying lethal weapons - each day that passes the WEST should announce another move against PUTIN.
Today - let’s mass dismiss all RUSSIAN ambassadors and FSB/GRU diplomats from our embassies. https://t.co/CNtgh4EbTe
“There’s a great episode in Band of Brothers where the older and more experienced soldiers refused to learn names of the new battlefield replacements because they didn’t want to get close in case they were killed – it was too painful and that’s the kind of thing we’re talking about here.
“Going into a situation like that, no matter how well intended you are, it’s vital to recognise how dangerous it is. People should not be heading into a warzone.”
The former Royal Green Jackets Captain said he is in touch with Ukrainian officials on a daily basis having visited the country shortly before the Russian invasion.
He said: “They’re feeding me their requirements and I then nudge the government to act on those requirements.”
Despite praising sanctions on Russia and hoping for more, the Dorset MP feels not enough was done to prevent the invasion.
“Too long we’ve been following rather than shaping,” he said. “This hasn’t been sudden. Since the Novichok poisonings there has been a steady drumbeat of active defiance against Putin, that’s what we needed to see more of before the invasion.
- Read more: BCP Council pledges Ukraine support
“It’s a fast-moving event and international security is becoming a more dangerous and complex issue. It’s great to see Britain now waking up but I’d like to see more of that in Russia, exposing Putin for the tyrant he is and recognising he is an embarrassment and danger to that country.
“We need to brace ourselves for a new cold war. For the last 30 years things have been relatively peaceful in Europe but the world is returning backwards.”
Meanwhile, Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns said: “With our American friends I think we’ve used our influence to introduce worldwide sanctions against Putin and his acolytes and put pressure on their regime.
“This situation is one that I thought we would never live to see again where a peaceful country is invaded by an aggressive neighbour.
“We have an obligation to provide assistance to a legitimately elected government in Ukraine and to support those citizens who have been forced to flee their homes. What’s happening is a tragedy brought on by mindless psychotic aggression.”
Following the announcement by Home Secretary Priti Patel that an extra 100,000 Ukrainians will be able to seek sanctuary in UK, Mr Burns added: “We are doing as we should, again it’s part of that obligation to help.
"No doubt this invasion has pricked the consciousness of the British people, as shown by the thousands who descended on Trafalgar Square recently, and there is no doubt that we stand with the people of Ukraine."
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