UK has no plans to send its troops to Ukraine: Lammy
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Le Monde reported Monday that European governments had begun talks about sending Western soldiers and fighters from private defense companies to Ukraine
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New recruits to the Ukrainian army are trained by UK army specialists at a military base near Manchester, England on July 7, 2022. (AP)
In an interview with La Repubblica, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the United Kingdom had no plans to send British soldiers to Ukraine.
The foreign secretary reiterated the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine with "training particularly" but noted there was a long-time position of not involving troops.
"We are not committing UK troops on the ground to Ukraine," Lammy said, disregarding other concerns about whether the UK would use private military firms or UK peacekeepers in the case of a truce.
He claimed that Moscow had no interest in peace discussions, and as a result, London would continue to offer military help to Kiev, allowing it to continue fighting.
"We've got probably a bitter, tough winter approaching us in Europe. That is a tough winter for Ukrainian troops. Let us ensure that today, that now, we put Ukraine in the strongest possible position as we head into 2025 where I suspect the fighting will continue," Lammy said.
Le Monde reported Monday that European governments had begun talks about sending Western soldiers and fighters from private defense companies to Ukraine in anticipation of Donald Trump's incoming presidency, which may potentially reduce support for Kiev.
The paper reported that discussions began after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's November 11 visit to France despite numerous EU nations remaining opposed to the measures.
Moscow strips UK diplomat of accreditation over false data
Regarding relations between the UK and Moscow, Russia recently withdrew accreditation from a British diplomat who replaced one of the previously expelled "British intelligence officials" and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks, according to the Russian Federal Security Service.
According to the FSB, Wilkes Edward Pryor "deliberately provided false information when obtaining a permit to enter our country, thereby violating Russian law," detailing how the official "conducted intelligence and sabotage work, threatening the security of the Russian Federation."
Pryor replaced UK intelligence personnel who were expelled from Russia in August.
Based on this information, the FSB announced Pryor was stripped of his accreditation and ordered to leave the country within 14 days.
According to the FSB, counterintelligence measures revealed an undeclared UK intelligence presence being conducted under the guise of the British embassy.
TASS reported that Nigel Casey, the British ambassador to Moscow, arrived at the Russian Foreign Ministry after being called over Pryor's espionage operations.
After spending over an hour at the ministry, Casey departed and declined to answer any questions from journalists who were waiting for him beside the building.
