Why Britain faces a '1937 moment' in Ukraine
The head of the British Army has likened the country's current defence situation in the wake of Russia's "brutal aggression" to the lead up to the Second World War, warning Britain is facing its "1937 moment".
In an address on Tuesday, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, is set to say that Britain's armed forces must be prepared to "fight and win" to prevent the war from expanding across Europe.
It comes as Russia's relentless invasion of Ukraine becomes deadlier by the day, with Vladimir Putin posing one of the largest threats to peace and democracy ever known.
Here is what the Army chief's comments mean.
What happened in 1937?
Neville Chamberlain became Britain's prime minister on May 28, 1937 and on the brink of the Second World War, pursued a policy of appeasement in a bid to prevent Adolf Hitler from dragging Europe into another world war.
Mr Chamberlain hoped to prevent war at all costs.
"I am myself a man of peace to the depths of my soul," he said, in an excerpt of his 1938 speech.
"Armed conflict between nations is a nightmare to me ... For the present I ask you to await as calmly as you can the events of the next few days. As long as war has not begun, there is always hope that it may be prevented."
Later in 1938, negotiations between Hitler and Mr Chamberlain broke down, and World War II began on September 1, 1939, with Germany invading Poland. The invasion incited Poland's allies Britain and France to declare war on Germany two days later, marking the end of the appeasement policy.
What does facing a '1937 moment' mean?
The phrase "our 1937 moment" refers to the critical period leading up to the Second World War and insinuates Britain must be ready to "fight and win" as Russia's war on Ukraine intensifies.
It means the UK must be prepared to "act rapidly" to contain Russian expansionism and ensure Britain is not pulled into full-scale conflict, according to Sir Patrick.
"This is our 1937 moment. We are not at war - but must act rapidly so that we aren't drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion," he is set to say in his speech.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that the British Army plays its part in averting war."
Why is Britain facing a '1937 moment' now?
Russia's aggression on Ukraine has not waned and President Vladimir Putin's "expansionist ambitions" pose one of the biggest threats to sovereignty, democracy and peace, Sir Patrick will say.
Britain's focus will centre around mobilising the Army to help prevent the spread of war in Europe by being "ready to fight and win alongside our Nato allies and partners".
"In all my years in uniform, I haven't known such a clear threat to the principles of sovereignty and democracy, and the freedom to live without fear of violence, as the brutal aggression of president Putin and his expansionist ambitions," Sir Patrick is set to say.
It comes as a Russian missile destroyed a crowded shopping mall in central Ukraine on Monday, continuing Putin's attacks on civilians living far behind the frontline.
In another echo of the atrocities of Nazi Germany, the Kremlin has also been accused of war crimes, following the discovery of mass graves around Kyiv.
Sir Patrick's comparison of Russia's threat to the lead up to the First World War comes after he wrote to all defence personnel under his command, warning they must prepare "to fight in Europe once again".
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is set to renew calls to increase defence spending in a bid to counter Russia's growing threat of violence.
Boris Johnson will also join other Nato leaders in Madrid for a summit, where they are expected to agree on the most significant overhaul of the Western military alliance since the end of the Cold War.
