UK: PM Insists No Plan to Send British Troops to Ukraine
The Facts
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday said that there were no immediate plans to send British military instructors to Ukraine, reeling back comments made by Defense Minister Grant Shapps that were published earlier in the day.
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph on the subject of British training of Ukrainian troops, Shapps said he'd been having discussions "about eventually getting the training brought closer and actually into Ukraine." The minister added that he also wanted to see more British arms firms move manufacturing into Ukraine.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
It is necessary to clear up Shapps's comments after some misreporting. He stated that British training of Ukrainian troops may take place in the country further down the line but, for the time being, it's not being considered. There are no plans to have UK forces fighting in Ukraine.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the training itself may not yet be taking place in Ukraine, the UK is already deeply involved in supporting the Ukrainian war effort — including through weaponry, intelligence, and even the provision of British troops on the ground. The UK's heavy involvement in the conflict is bringing the country dangerously close to a direct confrontation with Russia.