UK, Ukraine stress defense partnership

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The U.K. and Ukraine will continue to strengthen their defense partnership “in the face of intensifying threats and aggression,” British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said Friday.

Williamson's comments came after a meeting in London with his Ukrainian counterpart Stepan Poltorak and a day after a British navy ship was deployed in the Black Sea.

During the meeting, Williamson “announced a range of forthcoming deployments and exercises that will see the two countries’ Armed Forces continue to work together in defense of the international rules-based order,” said a statement from the Ministry of Defense.

“As long as Ukraine faces Russian hostilities, it will find a steadfast partner in the United Kingdom,” Williamson said.

“By continuing to work together, whether through training programs or military exercises, we help Ukraine to stand up for our shared values,” he said.

HMS Echo – a Royal Navy ship armed with cutting-edge intelligence technology – has reportedly docked in Odessa two days ago.

Williamson said: “Those values of freedom and democracy cannot be traded.

“I have witnessed on the frontline the effects of the conflict in the East and this has completely reinforced my support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.”

Poltorak said the U.K. is a valued partner that has supported Ukraine’s Armed Forces for the last four years in the face of Russian aggression.

“As we fight to defend our territory, the offer of extended support from the U.K. Armed Forces is vitally important and gratefully received,” he added.

Williamson announced at the meeting that HMS Echo would deploy to the Black Sea in 2019 “to demonstrate the U.K.’s support to ensuring freedom of navigation in the region.”

Russia in November seized three Ukrainian naval ships off Russian-held Crimea in the Sea of Azov, as the Ukrainian naval ships were relocating from Odessa to the Port of Mariupol.

The Ukrainian Navy accused Russia of opening fire on its warships, adding that its crew members were wounded and its vessels seized by Russia.

The ministry statement also confirmed that, “in January and February next year, training teams – made up of personnel from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Army – will deploy to Ukraine as part of the extension to the UK’s military training operation announced by Gavin Williamson on his visit to the country in September.”

It said the U.K. and Ukrainian armies will “gain another opportunity to develop capability and share expertise when U.K. contributes to the U.S.-Ukrainian led Exercise Sea Breeze next year.”

Williamson said in September during a visit to Ukraine that the U.K. would be extending its military training program, delivered through Operation Orbital, until 2020.

“Since the start of 2015, British personnel have trained over 9,500 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the Defense Ministry said.

Russia and Ukraine have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea after a controversial referendum.

Turkey, as well as the UN General Assembly, say the annexation was illegal.

Ukraine has also blamed Russia for separatist violence in eastern Ukraine, near the border with Russia.