British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has clarified that there are currently no plans to deploy military instructors to Ukraine, contradicting comments made by his defense minister. While training in Ukraine may be a possibility in the future, Sunak emphasized that there are no British troops being sent to the country's conflict. The UK has already provided military training to approximately 20,000 Ukrainians over the past year and intends to continue supporting Ukraine in a similar manner. The defense minister, Grant Shapps, had discussed the idea of deploying military instructors to Ukraine and providing training within the country itself.

However, Sunak stated that this is a long-term goal, not an immediate plan. He added that there are no British soldiers currently involved in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded to Shapps' comments by suggesting that any British soldiers training Ukrainian troops in Ukraine would be legitimate targets for Russian forces. However, Sunak's clarification reinforces that there are no British troops being sent to fight in the current conflict. Overall, the UK remains committed to providing long-term support to Ukraine, particularly in terms of military training.

The British government aims to continue training Ukrainian armed forces, with a focus on potential training opportunities within Ukraine itself. This support comes as the war in Ukraine continues to take a toll on both lives and resources. In addition to military training, the UK is also considering the establishment of arms factories in Ukraine in collaboration with British defense companies. This demonstrates the country's commitment to aiding Ukraine in its struggle against Russia. Meanwhile, separately from the situation in Ukraine, Shapps also mentioned that Britain is deploying hundreds of peacekeeping troops to Kosovo following recent violence in the region.

Additionally, British fighter jets were sent to Poland to support NATO's eastern flank ahead of the country's national elections. In summary, while British defense minister Grant Shapps had expressed the possibility of deploying military instructors to Ukraine, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it clear that there are no immediate plans to send British troops to the conflict. The UK will continue its support for Ukraine through military training, with a potential long-term goal of conducting training within Ukraine itself. British involvement in Ukraine remains focused on assisting and equipping Ukrainian armed forces.