UK considers sending troops to Ukraine to bolster training

LONDON — U.K. forces could be sent to Ukraine to directly train soldiers there, the British defense secretary suggested — as he unveiled a further £225 million worth of weapons and other military gear for Kyiv’s fightback against Vladimir Putin.

John Healey told the Times on a trip to Kyiv that the U.K. needs to “make the training a better fit for what the Ukrainians need” — and said military training must be made easier to access so that Ukraine can mobilize and motivate more recruits.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops have already been trained in the U.K. itself since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, in what’s known as “Operation Interflex.”

Healey told the Times: “We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.”

Healey was in Kyiv to unveil fresh U.K. support for Ukraine, which comes as Western allies mull the conflict’s next steps before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.

The fresh tranche of British military support will include £186 million in arms, covering everything from loitering munitions to reconnaissance drones, and come alongside £39 million of anti-drone systems and protective gear for Kyiv’s forces.

“Nearly three years after Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion, the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever,” said Healey, who is on his second trip to Kyiv since the summer.

The U.K. has been a leading backer of Ukraine, providing long-range Storm Shadow missiles and helping to train thousands of soldiers, while also pushing the U.S. government to allow Kyiv to fire donated weapons at targets deep inside Russia.

The Ministry of Defence in London said the fresh financing will be funnelled through its International Fund for Ukraine, which administers cash support from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and the Netherlands.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Trump Wednesday on the phone and stressed Western allies must “stand together” on Ukraine and ensure it is “in the strongest possible position,” per a British readout of the call.