UK considers sending troops to Ukraine to assist prepare its forces
The Ministry of Defence is contemplating the opportunity of sending British troops to Ukraine to assist prepare its armed forces.
Defence Secretary John Healey has been within the capital Kyiv to debate plans to offer extra assist to Ukraine within the coming 12 months.
He declined to present particulars of these plans, however defence sources say he has not dominated out the transfer.
Britain has been coaching Ukrainian troops within the UK since 2022. There’s additionally a small workforce of British Military medics offering coaching inside Ukraine.
Healey declined to present specifics on what the extra assist might be, saying the plans would “have to stay, to illustrate, unavailable to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin”.
The UK and different Nato members haven’t despatched troops to Ukraine or enforced a no-fly zone over the nation, for concern of being pulled right into a direct battle with Russia. Nonetheless, particular person members have provided arms and gear.
Healey got here to Kyiv with the promise of an extra £225m of army assist – for extra drones, artillery shells and air defences.
However he stated he had additionally been discussing methods to put Ukraine within the strongest attainable place for the approaching 12 months. That, he stated, concerned extra weapons, extra coaching and extra sanctions on Russia.
US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to attempt to deliver an finish to the struggle. Some Western nations have been discussing how they may present safety ensures for Ukraine ought to that occur.
Healey stated he would wait to see Trump’s plans however the defence secretary stated his main obligation was to do all the things attainable for Ukraine whereas it continued its struggle.
His feedback come forward of a gathering in Brussels on Thursday, which will likely be attended by Overseas Secretary David Lammy and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as properly representatives of EU international locations and Nato.
Lammy, echoing the defence secretary, stated the dialogue would deal with what additional assist was wanted to “put Ukraine within the strongest attainable place as we head into and thru 2025”.
“It’s massively vital that allies proper throughout Europe step up in that assist they’re giving Ukraine, the coaching that’s nonetheless essential for his or her armed forces, the funds that we nonetheless want over the long term, and we’ve to seek out progressive methods to seek out that finance,” he added.
The state of affairs in Ukraine was additionally mentioned when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer spoke to Trump throughout a cellphone name on Wednesday.
“The Prime Minister reiterated the necessity for allies to face along with Ukraine within the face of Russian aggression and to make sure Ukraine is within the strongest attainable place,” stated a Downing Road spokesperson.
