British Defense Minister says Ukraine inspired his son to join British army
Britain's "NATO First" strategy positions Estonia's border with Russia as the UK's front line of defense, Defense Secretary John Healey said in an interview exploring Europe's security challenges.
Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey said that his son Alex joined the Army reserves after Russia invaded Ukraine, The Telegraph reports.
“When Putin went in, in February 2022, the next day we were having lunch together and he said to me, ‘Dad, if I were Ukrainian, I’d join up today,'” Healey told the newspaper.
The personal disclosure came during a wide-ranging interview in which Healey discussed Britain’s defense priorities and the challenges of potential global conflicts.
According to Healey, his son, now in his late twenties, was driven by patriotic sentiment.
“It’s a bit old-fashioned, but he’ll talk about King and Country,” the Defense Secretary said.
Healey’s position has taken on new meaning since his son’s enlistment. “I can understand better the feeling of the families of those who… I hope it doesn’t happen, but if necessary, I will have as Defence Secretary to commit to conflicts where they may be at risk,” he told the Telegraph.
On Ukraine’s current situation, Healey cited British defense intelligence showing Russian forces suffered record casualties in October 2024, with 41,980 casualties and an average daily loss rate of 1,354. He maintained that Putin’s military spending, at 40% of the Russian budget, is unsustainable beyond 2025.
Healey said Britain’s “NATO First” strategy regarding NATO and European security.
“The defense of the UK starts in Ukraine. It’s why I argue that Estonia and the border with Russia is our front line, not just theirs,” he said.
German intelligence services have recently analyzed that the Russian Federation might attack NATO in 2026.
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