British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has emphasized that there are no immediate plans to deploy British military instructors to Ukraine, contradicting statements made by his Defence Minister Grant Shapps. The remarks come as the UK remains cautious about involving its troops in Ukraine to prevent the escalation of tensions with Russia.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Defence Minister Shapps had expressed his desire to deploy military instructors to Ukraine for training purposes, in addition to training Ukrainian armed forces in the UK or other Western countries. However, Prime Minister Sunak clarified the government’s stance, saying that while such training in Ukraine might be possible in the future, it is not on the current agenda.
Sunak stated, “What the defence secretary was saying was that it might well be possible one day in the future for us to do some of that training in Ukraine. But that’s something for the long term, not the here and now. There are no British soldiers that will be sent to fight in the current conflict.”
The cautious approach taken by the UK and its allies regarding Ukraine is to minimize the risk of direct military confrontation with Russia. The presence of foreign troops in Ukraine has been a sensitive issue since the conflict began.
In his interview, Defence Minister Shapps had also mentioned the possibility of offering military training within Ukraine, particularly in the western part of the country. He expressed hope that British defense companies like BAE Systems would proceed with plans to establish arms factories in Ukraine.
The UK has been actively involved in training Ukrainian forces, having provided five-week military training courses to approximately 20,000 Ukrainians over the past year, with plans to continue such training in the future.
Speaking at the Conservative Party’s annual conference in Manchester, Shapps did not directly address his earlier comments but stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He acknowledged the toll the war has taken on both lives and resources, emphasizing the need for steadfast support.
In addition to the Ukraine situation, Shapps announced that hundreds of British peacekeeping troops would be deployed to Kosovo following a surge in violence in the region. British fighter jets were also dispatched to Poland to support NATO’s eastern flank, responding to a request from the Polish government ahead of national elections.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the UK and its allies carefully navigate their role in the region to maintain peace and stability.
Sources By Agencies
