The UK's Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff Rob Magowan claimed that the British army would 'fight tonight' if Russia 'invaded Eastern Europe', during a Defence Committee hearing in London on Thursday.
"If the British army were asked to fight, it would fight tonight," he told MPs on the committee. "If Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, we would meet them in that fight."
His comments came amid questions about UK readiness for deployment on the Eastern Flank, while Defence Secretary John Healey promised MPs a 'classified' briefing away from the cameras.
The UK government has faced criticism of its armed forces' capabilities, with Healey claiming earlier that the situation was 'far worse than we thought', after the Labour Party took office in July.
Healey is carrying out a Strategic Defence review and has introduced a number of cuts to warships, helicopters and drones.
