LONDON, England: UK General Patrick Sanders, the new Chief of the General Staff, has told troops that Britain must be capable of fighting in Europe and defeating Russia.

A vocal supporter of Ukraine since Moscow's invasion in February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out sending British troops to fight the Russians. However, this weekend, Johnson warned that the UK would have to support Kyiv in the long-term.

Sanders, who took command of the British Army this month, was reported as telling troops, "I am the first Chief of the General Staff since 1941 to take command of the Army in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power."

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine underlines our core purpose, to protect the UK by being ready to fight and win wars on land," he added.