Britain denied Thursday it was over-reaching against Russia after Foreign
Secretary Liz Truss said "the whole of Ukraine" must be liberated,
indicating that Crimea must also be regained.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Truss's remark, made in a high-profile
speech, complied with the West's longstanding stance since Russia seized
the Crimean peninsula in 2014.

"We've constantly said that Russia should leave Ukraine sovereign
territory, so that hasn't changed," Wallace told Sky News.

But when asked whether Britain would support Ukraine militarily for any
offensive to recapture the peninsula, he said: "There's a long way to go
before Ukraine pushes into Crimea.

"I think what I would certainly say is, we are supporting Ukraine's
sovereign integrity. We've done that all along. That of course includes
Crimea.

"But you know, first and foremost, let's get Russia out of where they are
now in its invasion plans."

Addressing diplomats and business leaders in London late Wednesday, Truss
said Britain was "doubling down" on its military support.

"We will keep going further and faster to push Russia out of the whole of
Ukraine," she said, urging Western allies to increase military production
including tanks and planes to help Kyiv.

Wallace reiterated that any UK tanks and planes would not go directly to
Ukraine but instead "backfill" Soviet-era supplies being sent by the likes
of Poland.

He clarified that long-range Brimstone missiles being sent to Ukraine,
which can be fired at sea, "will be used over the ground", but that
Britain was examining help with anti-ship missiles.

"It's incredibly important that the grain that affects us all, the food
prices, does get to get out of Ukraine, that the Russians can't control
the Black Sea," he said.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/uk-stands-by-vow-to-clear-russia-from-whole-of-ukraine/articleshow/91146923.cms