2 February 2023
Defence leaders have joined Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in a visit to Australian soldiers providing critical training to Ukrainian recruits in the United Kingdom.
The ministers visited the UK-led and based multinational training mission with their UK counterparts, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Australia's Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell and Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty also spoke to some of the 70 personnel who deployed to the UK in January as part of ADF Operation Kudu to assist with the training program.
Mr Marles said the opportunity to visit the Australian soldiers taking part in the multinational effort to help train Ukrainian recruits was a privilege.
“Australia, the UK and our international partners will continue to stand with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion – and we saw that first-hand here today, as our soldiers worked shoulder-to-shoulder to help bolster the capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Mr Marles said.
“In this uncertain and complex world, it is essential that Australia continues to work with the UK and other partners in support of the rules-based order.”
The multinational training program will help generate additional capacity within the Ukrainian Armed Forces to support Ukraine’s self-defence. No ADF personnel will enter Ukraine as part of the program.
