The UK will send troops to Ukraine for the first time to train Zelensky’s forces (Portal)
The Defense Minister of Great Britain, Grant Shappsrevealed that the country for the first time will send troops to Ukraine in support of the armed forces of Volodymyr Zelensky in his counteroffensive against Russia.
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In an interview with local media The Telegraph, the official revealed that a program outside of those already agreed with The Telegraph is being discussed NATO through which his British soldiers will be supplied Training to local troops on their own land.
British soldiers will train Ukrainians in their own country (EFE)
He made the most progress on this proposal in a recent meeting with General Sir Patrick Sanders, the Chief of the General Staff, and other senior commanders.
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“Today we’re talking about (the possibility of). Bring education closer to Ukraine“, especially in the west of the country,” the official commented, referring to other initiatives already underway that involve the transfer of troops from Kiev to various European nations, such as Operation Interflexwhich brought 20,000 soldiers to the Salisbury Plain base in the United Kingdom.
“I think now we have the opportunity to bring more things into the country, not just training but also, we see, like BAE [la empresa de defensa británica]“For example, production can be relocated to the country,” he continued.
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In his statements, the minister revealed another idea that he has recently begun to debate: that of encouraging British companies dedicated to war production to do so Move operations to Kyivto facilitate the transport of weapons.
“I wish other British companies would do the same. I think there will be a push in Ukraine to create more production and training,” he confided.
Last week Shapps held a meeting with Zelensky in Kiev where they addressed another fundamental issue at this stage of the war: the Assisting the British Navy in defending merchant ships in the Black Sea.
During their meeting in Kiev, Shapps offered Zelensky help in defending ships operating in the Black Sea (Portal)
Since the suspension of Grain Agreementwhich was due to be renewed on July 17 but on which no consensus was reached between the parties, Russia has stepped up its attacks on ships sailing through these waters in a bid to sabotage Kiev’s exports.
In this sense, the head of the defense department told him that he had “more or less followed the events of the last month and, above all, because of this, Britain is a naval nation that can help and advise.” Water is international water“.
“It is important that we do not allow international maritime traffic to be somehow prohibited in these waters,” he stressed.
Since ending the grain deal, Russia has stepped up attacks on ships sailing in the Black Sea, aiming to sabotage Kiev’s exports (Portal)
In doing so, Britain not only made it clear that it “will continue to stand side by side with Ukraine in many respects,” but also, is ready to strengthen cooperation and take a more active role in the war conflict.
Of course, any of Shapps’ last three announcements could have a trigger a stronger response from the Kremlinsomething Western allies have been trying to avoid since February 2022.
Since the beginning of the war, NATO has made clear its support for the Ukrainian side, albeit with verbal condemnations and arms deliveries. So far there has been no official deployment of alliance troops in Kiev, although this has become known in the last few hours France mobilized Airplanes to carry out independently Surveillance tasks over the Black Sea.
The United Kingdom could therefore follow this initiative and launch its own aid plans.
Shapps also mentioned his willingness to help Zelensky find new ways to join the bloc.
The UK will look for new ways to help Kiev join NATO (EFE)
Finally, the official pointed to the increase in his country’s defense spending to 3% of GDP, stating that “it is important that the European Union commits to achieving this goal” and that “we understand that freedom is not free.”
“We have to pay for it, it ensures our prosperity,” he concluded.