Liz Truss has been slapped down by the Chief of the Defence Staff after she expressed support for British volunteers heading to fight for Ukraine.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin urged Britons not to head to Ukraine to fight against Russia, in a clear rebuke to the Tory Foreign Secretary.
It means her comments have now been disowned by Downing Street, fellow ministers, the chairman of the Defence Committee, and the Prime Minister’s most senior senior military advisor.
The Admiral told the BBC's Sunday Morning programme: "We've been very clear that it's unlawful as well as unhelpful for UK military and for the UK population to start going towards Ukraine in that sense.
"Support from the UK, support in whatever way you can. But this isn't really something that you want to rush to in terms of the sound of gunfire. This is about sensible support based in the UK."
Last week, Ms Truss said she would "absolutely" support anyone who wanted to fight, with a number of Britons keen to help Ukraine defend itself against Vladimir Putin's invasion.
She said: "That is something people can make their own decisions about.
"The people of Ukraine are fighting for freedom and democracy, not just for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.
"Absolutely, if people want to support that struggle I would support them in doing that."
Asked if the Foreign Secretary should not have made the suggestion, Sir Tony said: "I think she was reflecting (that) she could and that we can all understand that sentiment, and that sentiment needs to be channelled into support for Ukraine.
"But we're saying as professional military people that actually that is not necessarily the sensible thing to be doing."
Ms Truss's comments run contrary to the Foreign Office advice against all travel to Ukraine.
She has also been contradicted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several other Cabinet colleagues who have warned Britons away.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the formation of an "international legion" to help defend his country and appealed to foreign volunteers to come forward, promising them arms to fight against Russian troops.
Chief of Defence Staff slaps down Liz Truss for backing Brit fighters in Ukraine
No 10 sources were taken by surprise by Ms Truss' remarks and distanced themselves from it.
Boris Johnson's spokesman said on Monday “we fully recognise the strength of feeling in British people wanting to support Ukrainians," but pointed to Foreign Office advice adding: "We firmly advise against travel to Ukraine".
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace insisted Brits should not to travel to fight as he did not "want to see British people killed any more than I want to see Ukrainians" dying.
Mr Wallace, who served in the Scots Guards, said there are "better ways" for Brits to help Ukrainians.
"If you're keen to help and you're a United Kingdom citizen, come and join our armed forces," he told Sky News.
"Look, there are people who will go... I think what I would say is unless you are properly trained, unless you are a, you know, experienced member of an armed forces, I think there are better ways for you to contribute to the security of Ukraine."
Former Cabinet minister Robert Buckland warned "turning up there with good intentions" and seeking to get involved without any legal authority "could worsen" the situation.
Senior Tory MP and chair of the Commons Defence Committee Tobias Ellwood told the BBC's Politics Live show: "I think she was slightly caught off guard as you saw in the conversation.
"My real concern is that 18 year olds can see this, think they're doing a good thing, think they're well intentioned.
"Please do not go to Ukraine unless you have some form of combat experience."
