General Sir Patrick Sanders took command of General Sir Mark Carleton Smith on Monday and wrote in his accusations about the challenges they face. “There is now an ardent need to create an army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle,” said Sir Patrick. “We are the generation that must prepare the Army to fight again in Europe,” he added. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores our main goal of protecting the United Kingdom by being ready to fight and win wars on land General Sir Patrick Saunders It comes after the Prime Minister returned from Ukraine with a warning that “we must arm ourselves for a long war.” After his visit to Kyiv, Boris Johnson said that Vladimir Putin’s invasion “is entering a new phase” and that if Russian progress is successful, “it will not stop dividing Ukraine.” Writing to the Times, Mr Johnson said: “I’m afraid we have to arm ourselves for a long war as Putin launches a campaign of destruction, trying to crush Ukraine with sheer barbarism. “The United Kingdom and our friends must respond by ensuring that Ukraine has the strategic stamina to survive and ultimately prevail.” “Everything will depend on whether Ukraine can strengthen its ability to defend its territory faster than Russia can renew its ability to attack,” he added. “Our task is to spend time on the side of Ukraine.” The government presented plans last year to reduce the size of the regular Army, reducing the size of the staff from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025. When the announcement was made in March 2021, the Army had about 76,500 regular soldiers. Sir Patrick said he was “the first Chief of General Staff since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power”. He added: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underscores our main goal of protecting the United Kingdom by being ready to fight and win wars on land.”
