British troops will NOT be sent to Ukraine to fight in the short term, Rishi Sunak says

Speculation shut down

Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, confirmed today that British troops will not be deployed to Ukraine in the near future to train Ukrainian soldiers or fight against the Russians. The announcement came during the first day of the Tory Party Conference in Manchester, where Sunak addressed the ongoing rumors.

No immediate plans

Speaking during a visit to the Burnley Boys and Girls Club, Sunak emphasized that British troops will not be heading to the war-torn region in the short term. This statement follows comments made by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, who suggested that British soldiers could potentially be sent to Ukraine to train Russian soldiers.

Long-term possibilities

Sunak clarified that Shapps' comments were in regard to the future possibility of conducting training in Ukraine but reiterated that there are currently no plans to send British soldiers to fight in the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that the UK is currently providing training to Ukrainian soldiers within the UK itself.

Response from Russia's ex-president

Grant Shapps' comment regarding potential training in Ukraine prompted a response from ex-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who warned of the possibility of World War Three breaking out. Medvedev criticized NATO countries and referred to the British Minister of Defence as a "cretin" for suggesting transferring English training courses to Ukraine.

Training in the UK

Since the beginning of 2022, over 20,000 recruits from Ukraine have received training in the UK. However, NATO members have been hesitant to conduct training programs within Ukraine due to the risk of soldiers being involved in armed combat with the Russians.

New plans for Ukraine

Grant Shapps expressed his intention to move "more training" into Ukraine during his tenure as the Defence Secretary. He also urged British defence firms to establish a presence in the country. Additionally, he mentioned discussions with Ukrainian President Zelensky about the potential involvement of the Royal Navy in the defense of commercial vessels in the Black Sea. The UK is also exploring ways to assist Ukraine in preparing for membership in NATO.