Shapps wants to ‘eventually’ have British soldiers in Ukraine training their troops sparking fury with Russia

The British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps as said that he would like to “eventually” see the British Army train troops in Ukraine.

Shapps is looking at ways to get Ukraine into shape so that they can apply for membership to join NATO.

The Defence Secretary has spoken with army chiefs to move “more training” in country and has called on defence companies to set up factories in Ukraine.

On Friday Shapps was at a military base in Salisbury Plain and was briefed by senior officers and by General Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of General Staff.

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Shapps said, “I was talking about eventually getting the training brought closer and actually into Ukraine as well.

“Particularly in the west of the country, I think the opportunity now is to bring more things in country, and not just training. We’re seeing BAE, for example, move into manufacturing in country.

“I’m keen to see other British companies do their bit as well by doing the same thing.”

Dmitry Medvedev the deputy chairman of Russia‘s Security Council has issued a threat to British soldiers warning they are legitimate targets.

Medvedev wrote on Telegram, “[This will] turn their instructors into a legal target for our armed forces.

“Understanding perfectly well that they will be ruthlessly destroyed. And not as mercenaries, but namely as British NATO specialists.”

Adding, “These morons are actively pushing us towards World War Three.”

On Wednesday Shapps was in Kyiv visiting President Volodymyr Zelensky and suggest that the UK could have a more active role in the Black Sea, where Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea Fleet are based.

Shapps said, “Britain is a naval nation so we can help and we can advise, particularly since the water is international water.”

“It’s important we don’t allow a situation to establish by default that somehow international shipping isn’t allowed in that water.

“There’s a lot of places where Britain can help advise.”

Shapps told The Telegraph ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester the UK should reinstate Liz Truss’s vow to up defence spending to 3% GDP.

Shapps said, “I think it’s really important that we understand that freedom isn’t free,” he said.

“You have to pay for it and it also keeps us prosperous, not only because we keep out invaders, but we also help shape the world around us and do good in the world.”