UK mulls sending troops to Ukraine under guise of 'training'
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During a recent visit to Kiev, UK Defense Secretary John Healey has suggested that British troops might be deployed to Ukraine to assist in training Ukrainian soldiers.
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Defense Secretary John Healey (AFP/Getty Images)
The UK Defense Secretary John Healey suggested during a recent visit to Kiev that UK troops could be deployed to Ukraine to assist in training its soldiers, emphasizing the need for Britain to tailor training to better meet Ukraine's specific needs.
He told The Times, "We [need to] make it easier for the Ukrainians to access and we [need to] work with the Ukrainians to help them motivate and mobilize more recruits."
When asked whether this could include extending training from the UK to Ukraine, he replied, "We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting."
This comes in contradictory to what British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in an interview with La Repubblica that the United Kingdom had no plans to send British soldiers to Ukraine.
Healey's comments came as he committed Britain to a £225 million support package for Ukraine, as the country faces increasing pressure to enter peace talks with Russia.
The big picture
During his re-election campaign, Donald Trump vowed to end the war in Ukraine on his first day in office, while incoming Vice President JD Vance suggested that Ukraine should cede land to Russia for peace. In contrast, Healey stated that Ukraine should enter talks "from a position of strength not weakness," in an apparent criticism of Trump's stance. He stressed that Ukraine must continue to build its military capabilities, adding, "We can't take the eye off the ball."
Announcing the support package, Healey said, “Nearly three years after Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion, the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit. But they cannot go it alone - which is why the UK will step up our international leadership on Ukraine throughout 2025.”
He also emphasized the "critical period for Ukraine," alleging that Russia is putting pressure on the front lines, while Putin is showing signs of weakness, including calling in DPRK troops and failing to defend positions in Syria. Russia strongly denied such allegations.
The remarks follow accusations from former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who claimed that Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party has diluted Britain’s support for Ukraine. Kuleba suggested that Labour has simply followed the US, while the previous government had played a more leadership-oriented role.
Meanwhile, during a visit to Norway, the Prime Minister stated that it would be a “big mistake” for allies to reduce their support for Ukraine.
In Westminster, the Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill passed the Commons without opposition on Wednesday. The Bill allows the government to provide loans and other financial assistance to Ukraine, with Britain contributing £2.26 billion as part of a G7 loan package that includes the U.S., EU, Canada, and Japan.
