London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Britain is considering deploying troops to Ukraine to train its armed forces as part of its enhanced military support, which includes £225m in additional aid.
As reported by BBC, Mr Healey has not disclosed any specific details of the plans, but defence insiders reveal that he left open the option of sending British forces to Ukraine for training support.
At present, the UK is offering training to Ukrainian forces in Britain, while a limited number of UK Army medics are also conducting training within Ukraine.
The Defence Minister’s visit to Kyiv brought a pledge of £225m in additional military aid to Ukraine, including drones, heavy weapons, and air defences.
Mr Healy stated that discussions included strategies to enhance Ukraine’s position for the next year, focusing on the need for additional weapons, training sessions and penalties against Russia.
He declined to provide details about sending troops to Ukraine during his BBC interview, while Defence sources state deploying British forces for training is under discussion.
The Defence Secretary said,
“The detail of our joint Ukrainian plan will have to remain, let’s say, unavailable to [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin.”
In response to a question about sending forces to Ukraine, Mr Healey replied,
“We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.”
Donald Trump, the US President-elect, has pledged to work towards ending the war, while Western countries are also considering potential security commitments for Ukraine.
John Healey said he would hold off to see Trump’s strategy to end the war, but his primary responsibility was to do everything possible for Ukraine throughout its struggle.
His remarks come ahead of a key meeting in Brussels on Thursday, where Foreign Secretary Lammy, President Zelensky, and officials from the EU and NATO will be present.
David Lammy, reflecting the defence minister’s views, insisted that the talks would be on providing further assistance to “put Ukraine in the strongest possible position as we head into and through 2025.”
While Britain and NATO have avoided deploying troops or enforced a no-fly zone in Ukraine to prevent direct conflict with Russia, separate members have contributed weapons and resources.
Western nations have been warned by Russia against the deployment of troops to Ukraine for training, with the Russian military viewing NATO soldiers as legitimate targets.
The Antiwar news reports according to leaked information, UK soldiers have been operating covertly in Ukraine since the conflict began.
Some Discord leaks disclosed that 97 NATO special operations forces, including 50 British troops, were in Ukraine by March 2023. The Times had previously revealed in April 2022 that British SAS units were training Ukrainians in anti-tank warfare.
According to a German military leak from earlier this year, British forces are assisting in firing Storm Shadow missiles in Ukraine, a move that has led to strikes on Russian soil, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
During a phone call on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Trump talked about the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
A Number 10 spokesperson stated, “The Prime Minister reiterated the need for allies to stand together with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and to ensure Ukraine is in the strongest possible position.”
Over 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by Britain since the start of Putin’s illegal invasion in 2022.
In September, Defence Minister John Healey MP revealed the extension at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Ramstein, Germany, attended by President Zelenskyy and over 50 nations.
The extension highlights Britain’s dedication to supporting Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression.