The United Kingdom government has said Russian president Vladimir Putin is less powerful than he was before due to the invasion of Ukraine.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, the respect of the Russian army has been diminished while Russia is now a “lesser country” as a result of its invasion of Ukraine which has turned out badly and not gone according to plan.

Speaking to Sky News, Wallace said:

“President Putin is not the force he used to be. He is now a man in a cage he built himself.

“His army is exhausted, he has suffered significant losses.”The reputation of this great army of Russia has been trashed.

“He has not only got to live with the consequences of what he is doing to Ukraine, but he has also got to live with the consequences of what he has done to his own army.”Wallace says Russian forces appear to be regrouping and shifting their focus towards the south and east of Ukraine.”We have seen it before. It always gets worse. It goes for more civilian attacks, more civilian areas.”

He adds that international allies have agreed to supply more military equipment and “lethal aid” to Ukraine, including armoured vehicles and long-range artillery and ammunition.