Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently clarified the nation’s stance on sending troops to Ukraine to fight with the Russian army. Here’s the whole story.
No British ‘Boots on the Ground’
This announcement comes in the wake of comments made by the UK’s recently appointed Defense Minister, Grant Shapps, who had suggested the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine for training purposes.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has refrained from sending its troops to the region, opting for alternative means to support Ukraine while avoiding direct conflict with Russia.
Defense Minister Shapps had articulated a vision that involved sending military instructors to Ukraine to provide training, possibly within the UK or other Western nations.
Possibly, Maybe, One Day…
However, Prime Minister Sunak’s statements seemed to diverge from Shapps’ vision, as he clarified that there were no immediate plans to deploy British troops to Ukraine.
Sunak said, “What the defense 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,” he added.
Avoiding Becoming a Russian Target
The rationale behind the UK’s cautious approach lies in the potential risks involved in deploying troops directly to Ukraine.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that any British troops engaged in training Ukrainian soldiers within Ukraine would become targets for Russian forces.
Such a move could escalate tensions and directly involve British soldiers in the ongoing conflict.
Training and Support
Nonetheless, the UK remains committed to providing training and support to Ukrainian forces.
Over the past year, the UK has trained approximately 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers through five-week military courses, as reported by Reuters.
The intention is to continue this training program, preparing a similar number of individuals for future challenges.
Arms Factories
Defense Minister Shapps indicated a potential shift in the location of military training, suggesting that discussions with British military chiefs had opened the possibility of conducting training within Ukraine itself.
He explained the opportunity to bring training “in country,” particularly in the western regions of Ukraine.
Additionally, Shapps expressed hope that British defense companies, such as BAE Systems, would proceed with plans to establish arms factories in Ukraine.
Stop “Pushing the War Forward”
When addressing the Conservative Party’s annual conference, Shapps did not explicitly mention the earlier comments regarding troops being sent to Ukraine.
Instead, he highlighted the gravity of the situation, admitting that the conflict was consuming both human lives and resources at an alarming rate.
Several social media users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “Why do you people continue pushing the war forward? Is not good for the citizens…”
“Dumbest War Ever Created for Profit”
Another user added, “Sunak just can’t make up his mind which side he is on. But I’m afraid he can’t sit on the fence forever he will have to show his true colors sooner or later.”
A third user commented, “That’s been long overdue. Russia won’t retreat unless the West sends troops to Ukraine. NUCLEAR WAR? Only fools buy that Russia threat.”
A fourth user wrote, “At some point, it has to happen. Ukrainian men are being slaughtered. Someone has to take their place in the dumbest war ever created for profit.”
The post “Pushing the War Forward” – No British ‘Boots on the Ground’ in Ukraine. Can PM Rishi Sunak Avoid Provoking the Russians with His Promises of ‘Alternative’ Support? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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