Defence chief ‘not feeling optimistic' as he flies to Moscow talks
Evening Standard|January 27, 2022
DEFENCE Secretary Ben Wallace today said he is “not optimistic” a Russian invasion of Ukraine can be stopped as he prepared to meet his counterpart in Moscow for crisis talks.
Matt Watts
Defence chief ‘not feeling optimistic' as he flies to Moscow talks

Mr Wallace told the BBC from Germany there was still “a chance” an incursion could be halted, but added: “I’m not optimistic.”

He confirmed to the broadcaster that he would soon meet Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said today that Russia is likely to remain on a diplomatic track with his country and the West for at least two weeks following talks in Paris yesterday.

“The good news is that advisers agreed to meet in Berlin in two weeks, which means that Russia for the next two weeks is likely to remain on the diplomatic track,” he said.

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