BRITAIN must be ready to sacrifice its “sons and daughters” to defend itself from Russia, the Chief of Defence Staff has warned.
In a chilling prediction of what it might take to deter a full-scale conflict, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said: “More families will know what sacrifice for our nation means.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has warned Britain will need to sacrifice its citizens to shield itself from RussiaCredit: Alamy
It comes as Vladimir Putin continues his bloody invasion of UkraineCredit: Reuters
He said the chances of Russian tyrant launching a direct attack on Britain were slim but steadily growing.
And he echoed the French General by saying that lacked the will to “lose its children”.
Gen Mandon, France’s top officer, accused his countrymen of “lacking strength of spirit to accept suffering in order to protect who we are”.
Addressing French mayors, Gen Mandon said: “If our country falters because it is not prepared to accept – let’s be honest – to lose its children, to suffer economically because defence production will take precedence, then we are at risk.”
Last night ACM Knighton said: “Fabien Mandon was right.
“More people being ready to fight for their country.”
Delivering his annual lecture to the RUSI think tank in London he said: “Sons and daughters, colleagues, veterans will all have a role to play – to build, to serve and if necessary, to fight.”
He said Britain faced the same threat as – but noted Berlin has brought in national service and was outspending Britain on defence.
Labour have pledged to spend 2.5 per cent of on defence by 2027.
In a thinly veiled swipe at the Treasury he said: “Germany expects to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on Defence by 2029. is already at 4.2 per cent.
“And we have seen just in the past few weeks France and Germany return to a form of national service.
“In reality, other than proximity, the threat in the UK isn’t really any different to the threat in Germany, for example.”
The bombshell comments come after the head of against Putin’s rampant campaign of sabotage.
Blaise Metreweli, the first female chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, said her spies would take covert action to outplay “in every way”.
She warned: “We are now operating in a space between peace and war.”
The spychief, known as C, said she had ordered her real life James Bonds to tap into the “instincts” of a legendary World War Two sabotage unit, the Special Operations Executive.
Vladimir Putin is waging a shadow war against BritainCredit: Reuters
British servicemen at the Steadfast Dart 2025 exerciseCredit: AP
Its agents snuck into Nazi territory – often by parachute or submarine – with orders from to “set ablaze”.
Metreweli said: “We will never stoop to the tactics of our opponents.
“But we must seek to outplay them. In every domain. In every way.
She added: “Intelligence must drive action. Action must deliver advantage.”
Metreweli, 48, the youngest ever MI6 chief, said: “It is not enough to understand the world. We must shape it too.”
Last week, “like our grandparents endured”.
He warned the UK and other allies are next in ‘s sights – and said member states must rapidly boost defence spending.
Speaking at a security conference event in , Rutte said: “We are ‘s next target. I fear that too many are quietly complacent.
“Too many don’t feel the urgency. And too many believe that time is on our side. It is not. The time for action is now.
“Conflict is at our door. has brought war back to . And we must be prepared.”
A top for war and will pay a “high price” if Putin attacks Europe.
Viktor Andrusiv told The Sun that the UK must learn lessons from before it is too late.
War in Ukraine is still raging onCredit: Dan Charity
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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