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Poll: UK wary of sending troops to Ukraine

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Another day and another wait to see what, if anything, will happen in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin still has thousands of soldiers on the Russian border, there’s accusation of cyber-attacks on Kiev’s banks and defence ministry while Moscow media has been ridiculing the West over yesterday’s ‘day of no invasion.’ So, as Westminster works itself into a frenzy, Mr S thought it worth asking what the great British public makes of all this.

It isn’t clear yet how the stand-off will end, but for a plurality of Brits the answer is clear: war. Some 41 per cent think a Russian invasion in the next month is ‘likely’ or ‘very likely’; only half of that – 21 per cent – think such an event ‘unlikely’ or ‘very unlikely.’ The UK’s role in this crisis has, for better or worse, been negligible in the minds of most voters: 50 per cent said the government’s actions had made an invasion ‘neither more nor less likely’ with only 15 per cent believing the actions of Ben Wallace et al made it ‘less likely’ and 14 per cent arguing the opposite.

A plurality of Brits (40 per cent) would oppose and 24 per cent would support UK and allied troops being deployed to Ukraine if Russia were to invade, according to a poll of 1,500 adults conducted yesterday by Redfield and Wilton. But while military action is clearly divisive, other options are much more popular.  An overall majority – 57 per cent – would support Britain and its allies imposing strict sanctions against Russia, compared to just 12 per cent opposed.

In the event of a Moscow invasion, voters also support sending weapons and supplies to Ukraine in this scenario by 39 per cent to 26 per cent, leaving aside undecideds and those who don’t know.

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Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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