Johnson offers to train Ukrainian soldiers
Ukrainian leader told he will be offered British Army expertise, as he hosts counterpart’s visit to Kyiv
Boris Johnson offered Ukraine a Uk-led military training programme, which he said could “change the equation of the war”, in a visit to Kyiv yesterday. Ukrainian forces would be drilled under the British scheme, which the Government said could train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days. Mr Johnson said the programme, designed to make up for a shortage of trainers in Ukraine, would harness “that most powerful of forces – the Ukrainian determination to win”.
BORIS JOHNSON offered Ukraine a Ukled military training programme, which he said could “change the equation of the war”, in a visit to Kyiv yesterday.
Ukrainian forces would be drilled under the British scheme, which the Government said could train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days.
Mr Johnson said the programme, designed to make up for a shortage of trainers in Ukraine and informed by British Army expertise, would harness “that most powerful of forces – the Ukrainian determination to win”.
He said: “The UK is with you, and we will be with you until you ultimately prevail. As Ukrainian soldiers fire UK missiles in defence of your nation’s sovereignty, they do so also in defence of the very freedoms we take for granted.
“Two months on from my last visit, the Ukrainian grit, determination and resilience is stronger than ever, and I know that unbreakable resolve will long outlive the vain ambitions of President Putin,” Mr Johnson said in the Ukrainian capital.
Volodymr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said: “Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and resolute. Glad to see our country’s great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again.
“We have a shared vision of how to move towards victory because that is exactly what Ukraine needs – the victory of our state.”
If Ukraine accepts the offer, its soldiers will be taught “battle-winning skills for the front line” in addition to basic medical and cyber-security training and counter-explosive tactics.
The three-week training will take place outside of Ukraine and the UK will ask international partners to host the course for new and existing soldiers.
The UK trained more than 22,000 personnel between 2015, the year after the Russian annexation of Crimea, and
February’s second invasion. Operation Orbital helped Ukranians conduct their ferocious defence of their homeland, Downing Street said.
The UK has sent more than £1.3billion in humanitarian and economic support to Ukraine since Feb 24, including military aid.
Mr Johnson and Mr Zelensky also discussed how to end the Russian blockade of grain shipments. He suggested that there could be no peace talks until Russia had left Ukrainian territory during a joint press conference.
The Prime Minister’s trip comes a day after the leaders of France, Germany and Italy visited Kyiv for the first time since Russia’s illegal invasion.
In April, Mr Johnson became the first
G7 leader to visit Kyiv since the war began but he has been criticised for travelling to Ukraine rather than to Wakefield ahead of a by-election.
Downing Street last night denied Mr Johnson’s trip to Ukraine was politically opportunistic. “That is a very cynical view. The Prime Minister and the UK have been at the forefront of this horrific war and he has been consistently supportive of Ukraine and Zelensky,” No10 said in a statement.
A Red Wall Tory defended Boris Johnson after he missed the inaugural conference of the Northern Research Group of Conservative backbenchers.
Ben Houchen, the first directly elected Mayor of the Tees Valley, said, “Ukraine’s fight against Russia is [more] important than the PM attending a conference of Red Wall Tory politicians.”