The United Kingdom is in talks to potentially establish a direct presence in Ukraine and set up training centers and camps in the country to assist the allied forces, raising the risks of a direct clash with Russian forces, which might lead to dragging NATO into war with Moscow.

For over a year now, Kiev's troops have been traveling to foreign bases to receive military training and battle preparations by host nations as part of a UK-led international program dubbed "Operation Interflex."

Britain's Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who made an official visit to the capital Kiev last week, told the Telegraph that the plan is to move more UK-led 'training and production' operations into Ukraine rather than rely on foreign bases, including those in the UK.

Read more: US, UK involved in Ukraine's missile attack on Sevastopol: Moscow

Meanwhile, Shapps called for more British arms contractors to build production sites in Ukraine, which would help with supply chain issues and delays.

"I was talking today about eventually getting the training brought closer and actually into Ukraine as well," the minister said.

According to Shapps, the main region for these projects would be in Western Ukraine. He stressed that he sees that the "opportunity now is to bring more things in the country - not just training, but also we're seeing BAE [the UK defense firm], for example, move into manufacturing in the country, for example."

"I think there will be a move to get more training and production in the country."

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UK Defense Ministry: 18,000 Ukrainian recruits trained

The minister also revealed that he held discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky regarding ways that the British naval forces could help secure Ukrainian commercial vessels in the Black Sea.

"Britain is a naval nation so we can help and we can advise, particularly since the water is international water," Shapps said. 

London has been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine since the start of the conflict in February 2022, second just to the United States, having provided Kiev with £4.6 billion ($ 3.75 billion) in military aid so far.

The NATO country is actively engaged in delivering training to Ukrainian forces on the utilization of these armaments and equipment. 

In July, the UK's defense ministry announced that 18,000 Ukrainian recruits finished their training in the country. But the total number of prepped Ukrainian troops is much larger, considering that Operation Interflex also involves other countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden.

In addition to financial, military, and intelligence assistance, the British government was also one of the first countries to provide Kiev with advanced battle tanks and long-range missiles.

Turkey also on the move?

Turkey's military contractor Baykar, known for the Bayraktar TB2 advanced drone, announced on Saturday that it will be investing $100 million in a UAV production plant in Ukraine, as well as two other defense projects.

"The construction has already started. It will take about one-and-a-half years to finish it. We are targeting a minimum of 300 people to work here. And we have ongoing cooperation," the company's CEO Haluk Bayraktar said during the First International Defense Industries Forum in Kiev.

Germany gives WW2 flashbacks

German arms firm Rheinmetall announced in July intentions to build a tank factory in Ukraine, which is set to be operational by 2024 according to CNN. Moscow has labeled this decision as a "global provocation," declaring that the plant is a legitimate target for Russian strikes.

The defense contractor said that the factory aims to train Ukrainian workers in the repair and maintenance of various armored vehicles produced by the company, including Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Leopard 2 tanks, and Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery systems.