Tory MP claims ‘massive arms factory’ must be built in Poland

Tobias Ellwood MP outlines seven-point plan to end war in Ukraine

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A Tory MP has claimed that a “massive arms factory” must be built in Poland to help Ukraine win the war, a report has claimed. The chairman of the defence select committee, Tobias Ellwood said Western governments had demonstrated a lack of strategic foresight in their plans for helping Ukraine to “survive and thrive”.

The Conservative MP told The Telegraph the model of donations to Kyiv with differeing supply chains and types of ammunition was “unsustainable”.

He told the publication: “It’s just not feasible in the long term.

“Tanks today, yes. But we need a strategy to make sure Ukraine can defend itself.”

Mr Ellwood said the creation of an arms factory in Poland could help transform the Ukrainian armed forces into a more independent military.

He told the publication: “Let’s do the same with Ukraine so they can procure their own equipment to their own specification, probably Nato standard, and have a constantly protected supply chain.”

On Tuesday, he laid out a seven-point plan in the House of Commons to end the Ukraine war in the coming months.

Mr Ellwood, who was adamant he needs to be listened to, presented a “strategy to conclude the conflict” before the end of 2023.

He said the UK needs to “list the Russian state-sponsored Wagner military group as a terrorist organisation”, as well as directly impose sanctions on President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Ellwood called on the UK to appoint a Senior UK Ukraine Envoy to “help coordinate Whitehall support and align our efforts with our international allies”.

Mr Ellwood’s plan also saw him call for the establishment of a major Ukrainian armaments factory in Eastern Poland, explaining that while donating equipment to Ukraine is the “right call now”, it is “not sustainable in the long term”.

He said the weapons factory could see Ukraine “develop its own equipment”, including the Leopard 2 – a German made tank.

This comes amid a continuing dispute over German tanks being supplied to Ukraine.

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Berlin has imposed a veto on providing Ukraine with Leopard battle tanks, which are held by an array of NATO nations but whose supply to Ukraine would require Germany’s approval.

Leopard tanks are seen by defence experts as being the most suitable for Ukraine.

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