David Lammy has said the UK is not sending troops into Ukraine (Image: Getty)
The UK will not send troops to fight or directly support military operations in , David Lammy has said.
The Foreign Secretary said “there has been a longstanding position that we are not committing UK troops to the theatre of action”, adding that London would continue to support Kyiv through aid and training.
Tensions between and the West have significantly escalated in recent days after US President authorised to use American-supplied long-range missiles to attack targets inside .
Le Monde reported on Monday that France and the UK are “not ruling out” sending troops and private defence companies to .
The debate over sending troops to was relaunched after Prime Minister Sir ‘s visit to France for the November 11 commemorations, according to the French newspaper.
:
British troops are stationed in Estonia (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were said to have discussed plans to deploy troops to Ukraine (Image: Getty)
But when he was asked about the report in an interview, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK’s longstanding position not to send troops on the ground in had not changed.
“We are very clear that we stand ready and continue to support the Ukrainians with training particularly, but there has been a longstanding position that we are not committing UK troops to the theatre of action ,” he told newspapers La Repubblica, Le Monde and Die Welt at the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy.
“That is certainly the UK position, and remains the UK position at this time.”
Asked if that included contractors, he said: “We are not committing UK troops on the ground to , but we continue to support with training and military assistance, and we have been absolutely clear that we will continue to do that for as long as is required and is needed.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said there are “no plans” to send troops to .
He added: “We’ve previously had a limited number of troops providing medical training.
“And of course, we’ve had a significant training programme here in the UK for Ukrainian troops, and we were providing significant amounts of military aid support for , which we’re committed to providing for as long as it takes.
“And UK support is unwavering, and we obviously want to put in the best possible position as winter approaches, but we’re not considering putting UK troops in combat alongside Ukrainian troops.”
The spokesman said he was not aware of Sir Keir discussing this when he recently visited Paris and met with President Emmanuel Macron.
Tensions have escalated over in recent days.
As President Biden prepares to leave the White House and hand over to , he gave permission for Kyiv to fire the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Storm Shadow missiles supplied to by Britain were also fired into last week.
then used a new ballistic missile in in response.
Russian President said he was entitled to target the military facilities of countries that had supplied weapons to Kyiv, claiming that the war was becoming a “global” conflict.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the Western allies should not put any limits on their support for against .
Asked if this could even mean French troops in combat, he said: “We do not discard any option.”
London and Paris want to create a “core of allies in Europe” as fears intensify that President-elect could withdraw military support for , Le Monde claimed.
British and French troops could be among European allies deployed to deter the Kremlin from attacking again, if a ceasefire were to be agreed.
And they could train Ukrainian forces, similar to how they did before Moscow ordered a full-scale invasion of .
A British military source told French newspaper Le Monde: “Discussions are underway between the UK and France regarding defence cooperation, particularly with the aim of creating a core of allies in Europe, focused on and broader European security.”
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told the Financial Times last week: “If we are talking about real security guarantees, it means that there will be a just peace.
“Then we are talking about Nato membership. But without the US, it is impossible. And then we are talking about any form [of guarantee] in the meaning of boots on the ground.”
President-elect is alleged to have told his team European armies should patrol an 800-mile stretch of eastern to end the war.
Many across the continent fear Mr Trump’s re-election will lead to a halt in American military aid.
In exchange, the US would give Ukrainian troops weapons to deter from restarting the war.