The United Kingdom is exploring the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine to provide training to Ukrainian soldiers, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, Healey emphasized the need to tailor training programs to better suit Ukraine’s current military needs. “We need to make training more relevant to the needs of Ukrainians,” he told The Times. He also highlighted the importance of making training accessible, stating, “We [need to] make it easier for Ukrainians to access training and work with Ukrainians to help them motivate and mobilize more soldiers.”
When asked if the UK’s training programs for Ukrainian soldiers, currently conducted on British soil, would be extended to Ukraine, Healey affirmed the UK’s commitment to meeting Ukraine’s requests. “We will do everything we can to respond to the wishes of the Ukrainians. They are the ones fighting,” he added.
This approach mirrors a proposal previously supported by former Defence Minister Grant Shapps, who expressed similar sentiments in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph. Healey’s comments mark the first time a member of the Labour government has publicly endorsed such a move.
Healey’s remarks coincide with the announcement of a £225 million aid package for Ukraine. The funding aims to bolster Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as it faces growing pressure to engage in peace negotiations with Russia. However, Healey stressed that any talks should occur “from a position of strength, not weakness.”
“We can’t take our eye off the ball,” he urged, emphasizing Ukraine’s need to maintain its ability to “challenge and deter Putin.” Healey commended Ukraine’s resilience, noting, “Nearly three years after Putin launched his illegal large-scale invasion, the depth of his miscalculations is clearer than ever. The brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit.”
The UK government has pledged to increase its international leadership on Ukraine-related matters through 2025. Healey pointed to recent developments as evidence of Russian vulnerability, claiming, “Putin himself is showing signs of weakness by calling in North Korean troops to reinforce his own army, abandoning Assad, and failing to defend his own positions in Syria.”
