So far, the UK and its allies have avoided a formal military presence in Ukraine to reduce the risk of direct conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. Photo: Reuters
The UK has provided five weeks of military training to around 20,000 Ukrainians over the past year and plans to train a similar number in the future.
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Shapps said the issue had been raised in discussions with British military commanders on Friday. “I spoke today about the military training that is being carried out in Ukraine, particularly in the west of the country,” he said.
Mr Shapps added that he hoped UK defence companies such as BAE Systems would go ahead with plans to set up weapons factories in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday he wanted to turn his country's defense industry into a "major military center" by partnering with Western arms manufacturers to boost supplies of weapons for the counteroffensive.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Mr Shapps as Defence Secretary on September 1, after his predecessor Ben Wallace resigned.
Trung Kien (according to Reuters)
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