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UK to ship long-range weapons to Kiev, to begin training Ukrainian pilots

It is reported that London intends to coordinate efforts in this area with its allies in order to "meet Ukraine’s defense needs"

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

© Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

LONDON, February 8. /TASS/. The UK will expand training for Ukrainian servicemen by starting to train jet pilots, and will ship longer-range weapons to Kiev, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement Wednesday.

"I am proud that today we will expand that training from soldiers to marines and fighter jet pilots," Sunak said.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, Ukrainian pilots will develop skills that will allow them to be able to "fly sophisticated NATO-standard fighter jets in the future."

London intends to coordinate efforts in this area with its allies in order to "meet Ukraine’s defense needs." Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office noted that the shortest jet pilot training course lasts 36 months.

"[Sunak] will also offer to begin an immediate training programme for marines. That training will be in addition to the recruit training programme already running in the UK, which has seen 10,000 Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness in the last six months, and which will upskill a further 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers this year," the Prime Minister’s Office said, adding that the program will be additionally expanded this year.

"The Prime Minister will also offer to provide Ukraine with longer range capabilities," the statement reads. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the main goal of this step is to "disrupt Russia’s ability" to target Ukrainian facilities, as well as to "help relieve pressure on Ukraine’s frontlines." The exact set of weapons has not been disclosed.

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