Scots soldiers are training Ukrainian troops to battle Vladimir Putin

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scots soldiers are playing a key role in training Ukrainian troops to battle Vladimir Putin, the Foreign Secretary has revealed.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail, James Cleverly also slammed the SNP’s “dismissive” attitude to nuclear weapons based at Faslane on the Gare Loch in Argyll.The Tory minister and military reservist insisted that Trident missile submarines are vital to honouring the UK’s NATO commitments and ability to face down Russian aggression.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s party has said it will never support the retention of Trident or its ongoing renewal at an estimated cost of £176billion.Cleverly, who has had a meteoric rise since becoming MP for Braintree in Essex just seven years ago, said: “We’re seeing how incredibly important it is to have a credible nuclear and conventional defence posture.

When I speak to my Ukrainian counterparts, they hugely value the support the UK has given to them.“Ukrainian soldiers are being trained by the British Army and there are a disproportionate number of Scots in the Army who are really making a massive difference to the defence of Ukraine.” A couple of months ago it emerged Ukrainian sailors had received training in Scotland from the Royal Navy to operate Sandown-class minehunter vessels, ahead of the sale of two ships.In a thinly veiled swipe at the SNP, Cleverly added: “I think Putin would love it if there was anything that hampered our ability to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and made our commitment to NATO and other international partnerships less effective.