Ben Wallace: Russia 'mirroring' WW2 fascism in Ukraine invasion

Russia is "mirroring the fascism and tyranny" of World War Two Nazis in its invasion of Ukraine, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said.

Speaking as Russia staged a military parade marking the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, he accused Russian generals of hijacking their "forebears' proud history".

Mr Wallace said the generals must face war crimes trials.

The defence secretary said there "can be no victory day, only dishonour".

He accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of "ripping up both Russia's past and its future".

Mr Putin has been attending Russia's annual 9 May Victory Day parade in Moscow, as he attempts to rally public support for the war in Ukraine.

The event commemorates the anniversary of the Soviet victory over the Nazis in 1945. While VE Day is marked on 8 May in most of Europe, the 1945 surrender was signed after midnight Russian time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of forgetting everything that was important to the victors.

In a speech at the National Army Museum, Mr Wallace said: "Putin, his inner circle and generals are now mirroring the fascism and tyranny of 77 years ago, repeating the errors of last century's totalitarian regimes."

He continued: "So let's call out the absurdity of Russian generals - resplendent in their manicured parade uniforms and weighed down by their many medals - for being utterly complicit in Putin's hijacking of their forebears' proud history of defending against a ruthless invasion, of repelling fascism, of sacrificing themselves for a higher purpose.

"Instead now, they are the ones inflicting needless suffering in the service of lowly gangsterism."

He said the Russian army's actions "dishonour" the country's World War Two fighters and called for Russian generals to face court martial over their actions during Russia's "illegal invasion".

Mr Wallace pointed to attacks on civilians, the targeting of women and children and instances of sexual violence. He said all professional soldiers "should be appalled" at the Russian army's behaviour.

Speaking at a separate event at King's College London later, Mr Wallace said Russia's "brutality" in Ukraine could send an "incredibly dangerous" message if Mr Putin was successful.

The defence secretary said if a country won a war after its military had committed murder and rape, and bombed civilian territories, it would indicate to powers around the world that they "just need to be more brutal" than others to achieve their aims.

"If Putin is successful in Ukraine, then watch out," he said.

Pointing to the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Mr Wallace said Russia was "not interested in occupying" the area and had simply been destroying it.

Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, describing it as a "special military operation" which aimed to "demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine".

Mr Putin has said he wants to protect people after what he described as eight years of bullying and genocide from Ukraine's government. The claims are completely unfounded but part of a narrative repeated by Russia for years.

Speaking during the Moscow parade, Mr Putin claimed the West had been "preparing for the invasion of our land, including Crimea".

But Mr Wallace denied the West intended to invade, saying the Russian president had been making "fairy-tale claims for months". He said while Mr Putin claimed to be "surrounded", countries in the Nato military alliance accounted for only 6% of Russia's land border.

The defence secretary said Mr Putin "is believing what he wants to believe", adding: "Let me put on the record categorically: Nato, Britain, Eastern Europe is not planning to invade Russia and never has done."

The prime minister's spokesman said the UK would continue to provide Ukraine with military and financial support and that the government was "in this for the long haul".

However, the spokesman said that the UK was not looking for regime change in Russia, but is "focused on getting Putin to change course in Ukraine".

Speaking in a recorded address posted on Twitter, Boris Johnson said he has "never been more certain that Ukraine will win".

The prime minister said: "As we celebrate victory over fascism in the Second World War, a great European nation is fighting for survival against a brutal invasion."

Mr Johnson said Ukraine has the UK's "unflinching support" and that Ukrainians "ask for nothing except to live in peace and freedom in their own land".

Meanwhile, the UK has announced a fresh package of sanctions on Russia and Belarus, targeting £1.7bn of trade.

The Department for International Trade said new import tariffs would apply to goods including platinum and palladium - used to make parts for mobile phones and computers.

Export bans will also target chemicals, plastics, rubber and machinery. It takes the value of products subject to UK sanctions to more than £4bn.