Russia's advance is slower than a snail, says former Chief of the Defence Staff
Russia's advance on Ukraine is slower than a snail, the ex-Chief of the Defence Staff has said in his exit interview.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told BBC Sounds' Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast that if a snail had left Rostov-on-Don at the start of the war, it would now have crossed Ukraine and be halfway across Poland.
Adm Sir Tony's remarks coincided with the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris, where 30 Western leaders discussed the possible security guarantees for Ukraine if there is a stop to fighting between Kyiv and Moscow.
"If a snail had left Rostov-on-Don in Russia on the 24 February 2022, by now it would have crossed all the way through Ukraine and it will be halfway through Poland," he said.
"That's how difficult Russia is finding it, just to get those four oblasts."
The former First Sea Lord added that it would take Putin's forces more than four years to get the last territory in the four oblasts.
He also said that another two million Russians would be killed or injured in the process of trying to gain the territory.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the talks in the French capital that the allies must "go even further" in putting pressure on Russia and welcomed the news that the Coalition of the Willing will supply long-range missiles to Kyiv.
Sir Keir said Russian president Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted, given that he has delayed peace talks and continued to strike Ukraine.
"That was further underlined by the indiscriminate attacks in Kyiv last week, causing significant damage to the British Council and EU delegation buildings," he added.
Defence Secretary John Healey visited Kyiv and saw the destruction of the British Council building with his own eyes.
The statement from Downing Street also went into Sir Keir's thoughts on the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine.
"Discussing the latest military planning for the Coalition of the Willing, the Prime Minister emphasised that the group had an unbreakable pledge to Ukraine, with President Trump's backing, and it was clear they now needed to go even further to apply pressure on Putin to secure a cessation of hostilities," Downing Street said.
"The Prime Minister also welcomed announcements from coalition of the willing partners to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine to further bolster the country's supplies.
"He also thanked military planners and chiefs of defence for their ongoing and rapid work to ensure a force could deploy in the event of a ceasefire."
After the Coalition of the Willing talks, France's President Macron said that 26 nations are prepared to be directly involved in the security guarantees for Ukraine in a press conference with Ukrainian president Zelensky.
The proposals will go to the United States to become more formal, Mr Macron said.
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