Russia 'uses WWI-style attacks' in Ukraine, says defense secretary

Amid growing pressure on the West to supply Kyiv with fighter jets, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has warned that even if the UK agreed to send British warplanes 'tomorrow', it would take 'months' to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, center (

Image: Toby Melville/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace compared the brutal conflict in Ukraine to the misery of World War I.

Speaking after talks with his Australian counterpart in Portsmouth, the Cabinet Minister compared fighting with Russia to the Great War of 1914-18.

Amid mounting pressure on the West to supply Kyiv with fighter jets, Mr Wallace warned that even if the UK agreed to send British warplanes 'tomorrow', it would take "months" to train Ukrainian pilots to fly them.

He admitted, "There is no magic wand."

Defending the West's decision not to send fighter jets yet, former Scots Guards officer Mr Wallace said the Ukrainians needed "the ability to train military formations on the ground" to "repel the Russian forces".

"That's how you beat the waves of human attack that the Russians currently have to resort to - and they're resorting to World War I-style attacks, with subsequent casualties to match," he said. he declared.

UK ministers met their Australian counterparts in Portsmouth (

Picture:

Getty Images)

“Young men and women from Ukraine are trying to stand up, move forward and take back territory from the Russians.

"It's what they do every day - as it is - and they take losses as a result."

Downing Street and the White House have so far ruled out sending fighter jets to Kyiv, despite growing calls from President Volodymyr Zelensky for planes.

However...