Russian officials have lashed out at Grant Shapps, the UK Defence Minister, calling him a "newly-minted cretin" and accusing him of attempting to ignite World War III. Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin and former Russian President, criticized Shapps for suggesting that British troops could be sent to Ukraine, leading to an escalation of support.
Accusations and Strong Words
In a social media rant on Telegram, Medvedev expressed his outrage, stating, "One newly minted cretin – the British Minister of Defence – decided to transfer British training courses for Ukrainian soldiers to the territory of Ukraine itself." He went on to accuse Shapps of purposefully trying to start a global conflict, even taking satisfaction in the prospect of British troops in Ukraine being "mercilessly destroyed."
Clarification and Damage Control
Rishi Sunak, who recently appointed Shapps to the role in a small reshuffle, promptly addressed the comments. He explained, "What the Defence Secretary was saying was that it might well be possible one day in the future for us to do some of that training in Ukraine. But that's something for the long term, not the here and now, there are no British soldiers that will be sent to fight in the current conflict." Sunak emphasized that the UK is focused on training Ukrainian soldiers, which is currently taking place within the UK.
NATO's Stance and Biden's Decision
So far, NATO countries have refrained from sending troops to Ukraine to avoid getting drawn into the war. In another setback for Ukrainian support, President Biden recently signed off on a funding bill that removed billions of dollars in proposed financial aid for Ukraine. This decision comes just nine days after President Zelensky's visit to Washington, where he pleaded for continued US support.
Revelation of European Involvement
A leaked document from Kyiv to Western allies disclosed that Iranian kamikaze drones used to attack Ukrainian cities contain components manufactured in Europe. Five European companies, including a Polish subsidiary of a British multinational company, have been identified as the original manufacturers. The revelation brings further complications to the situation in Ukraine.
UK's Involvement in Training Ukrainian Armed Forces
Since the outbreak of the war, the UK has been involved in training over 20,000 members of the Ukrainian armed forces as part of the British operation Interflex. This number is expected to surpass 30,000 by the end of the year, indicating the UK's commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense efforts.
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