Britain could send troops to Ukraine as part of a £225million support package for Kyiv, the Defence Secretary has hinted – as he vowed to ‘put a lot more pressure’ on Vladimir Putin.
John Healey appeared to be open to the idea of sending British soldiers into the war-torn nation to help train fresh Ukrainian recruits to fight the Russians.
The UK has already played a key role in preparing Ukrainian volunteers for the front line, training more than 51,000 soldiers at British bases since Putin launched his full-scale invasion in 2022.
But in a potential change of direction, Mr Healey said the UK now needs to ‘make training a better fit for what the Ukrainians need’ during his latest trip to Kyiv.
The Defence Secretary, 64, added that his son’s service as an army reservist has helped him understand the ‘gravity’ of military action overseas for soldiers’ families.
Speaking to The Times, the Labour MP said: ‘We [need to] make it easier for the Ukrainians to access and we [need to] work with the Ukrainians to help them motivate and mobilise more recruits.’
Asked if this meant extending training of Ukrainian recruits inside the UK to Ukraine itself, he added: ‘We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.’
Last year, former Tory Defence Secretary Grant Shapps expressed his support for such a move during an interview with the Sunday Telegraph.
Ukrainian troops are pictured being trained to assault a trench at a British Army facility in northwest England
British troops have training more than 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers since 2022. Pictured is a British soldier teaching Ukrainian recruits how to assault a building
Defence Secretary John Healey (right) is open to sending UK troops to Ukraine to train new recruits there. He is seen speaking with British soldiers at the Stanford Training Area on October 20, 2024 near Thetford, England
Mr Healey is thought to be the first Labour Government figure to float the same proposal.
It comes as the Defence Secretary revealed an ambition for Britain to ‘put a lot more pressure’ on Russia next year.
During his trip to the under-siege Ukrainian capital, he revealed the UK will be sending Ukraine an additional package of military support worth £225million, which would include deadly weapons.
Mr Healey met his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov yesterday and outlined how the UK will provide more air defence and electronic warfare equipment, and drones and munitions for the country’s navy.
The equipment will be provided by the International Fund for Ukraine, with Western allies sharing the cost. Mr Healey also set out the priority areas for the UK’s support.
These include Ukraine’s military capabilities on the battlefield, the training of its soldiers by British troops, enhanced industrial cooperation and increasing pressure on Russia.
Last night, Mr Healey said: ‘The UK will step up its international leadership on Ukraine throughout 2025.
‘We will enhance our offer of training and provide battle-winning capabilities, included in our new £225million package.
Ukrainian recruits and their British Armed Forces trainers pose for a photograph on an AS90 self-propelled artillery system at a military facility, on February 23, 2023 in Southern England
Ukrainian soldiers put their new skills into action, breaching a building while a British Army instructor watches on
John Healey (pictured) met his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov yesterday and outlined how the UK will provide more air defence and electronic warfare equipment, and drones and munitions for the country’s navy
‘During my meetings in Kyiv I made clear the UK’s support will continue for as long as it takes, regardless of the situation in Ukraine and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure Putin cannot win.’
The UK continues to co-lead both the international drone and maritime coalitions to provide Ukraine with advanced new weapons and equipment.
The International Fund for Ukraine is a funding mechanism that uses financial contributions from international partners to rapidly procure priority military equipment for Ukraine.
The fund is administered by the UK Ministry of Defence on behalf of an executive panel comprising the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Lithuania. These partners, along with Iceland, Australia, Portugal, and New Zealand, have pledged more than £1.3bn to date.
