Interflex training may be tweaked to help Ukraine better degrade Russian forces
The Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President have been discussing possible ways of amending Operation Interflex to make Kyiv's forces more effective on the battlefield.
During a telephone meeting, Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed on how important it was to redefine the training being provided to Ukrainian recruits.
The aim of any changes would be to bolster their effectiveness in battle and degrade Russian forces in the longer term.
Downing Street said what happens in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months matters to Europe and Nato, and it was vital that Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions for Ukraine should fail.
"President Zelenskyy reflected on the situation on the frontline in Ukraine and the need to ensure Ukraine could degrade Russian forces for the long haul," said Number 10.
"The leaders discussed Operation Interflex, the UK-led training mission for Ukrainian recruits, and agreed on the importance of refining its offer to further bolster Ukraine's ability on the battlefield.
"The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon."
Over 50,000 recruits have been trained in the United Kingdom on Op Interflex.
This has seen Ukrainian men and women learn to become soldiers and refine their skills on British soil.
The training is led by British troops and is supported by 12 partner nations.
Nearly nine in 10 Ukrainian troops trained by the British Army under Op Interflex said they felt better equipped to survive on the battlefield following the completion of training, according to the National Audit Office.
In an interview with LBC, Defence Secretary John Healey Healey said: "This is undoubtedly a critical period for Ukraine.
"Russians are putting Ukraine under pressure on the frontline, but Putin himself is showing signs of weakness, calling in North Korean troops to reinforce his own army, walking out on [President Bashar] Assad and failing to defend his own positions in Syria."
Join Our Newsletter
