LONDON, Jan 22, 2022 (BSs/AFP) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has
accepted an invitation to meet his British counterpart Ben Wallace to discuss
the crisis on the Russia-Ukraine border, a senior UK defence source said
Saturday.
"The Defence Secretary is glad that Russia has accepted the invitation to
talk with his counterpart," the source said.
"Given the last defence bilateral between our two countries took place in
London in 2013, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has offered to meet in
Moscow instead," added the source.
"The Secretary of State has been clear that he will explore all avenues to
achieve stability and a resolution to the Ukraine crisis."
Tens of thousands of Russian troops are massed on Ukraine's border, along
with an arsenal of tanks, fighting vehicles, artillery and missiles.
Russia has denied it plans to invade but the White House believes an
attack could now come "at any point".
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned on Friday that Moscow risks
becoming embroiled in a "terrible quagmire" if it invades.
In a speech in Australia, the UK's top diplomat issued a blunt and
personal warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is on the brink
of making a major strategic blunder.
He "has not learned the lessons of history," Truss told Sydney's Lowy
Institute.
"The Ukrainians will fight this, it could be a quagmire" she said.
Britain is among a handful of Western nations rushing weapons such as
anti-tank missiles to Ukraine.