Maritime training deployments are set to deepen UK-Ukraine defense partnership. 

The UK and Ukraine will continue to strengthen their defense partnership in the face of intensifying threats and aggression, British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson reaffirmed today as he met Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak in London. 

In the meeting, Gavin 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, according to the report on the British government website. 

Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "As long as Ukraine faces Russian hostilities, it will find a steadfast partner in the United Kingdom.  By continuing to work together, whether through training programmes or military exercises, we help Ukraine to stand up for our shared values." 

"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," the defense secretary said. 

In turn, Stepan Poltorak praised the UK support for 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 UK Armed Forces is vitally important and gratefully received," Poltorak stated. 

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The UK Defense Secretary announced at the meeting that HMS Echo would deploy to the Black Sea in 2019 to demonstrate the UK’s support to ensuring freedom of navigation in the region. 

It was 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. 

The UK and Ukrainian Armed Forces will gain another opportunity to develop capability and share expertise when UK contributes to the U.S.-Ukrainian led Exercise Sea Breeze next year. 

While visiting Ukraine in September, where he visited the east of the country to see first-hand the effects of the ongoing conflict, the British Defense Secretary announced that the UK would be extending its military training programme, delivered through Operation Orbital, until 2020. 

Since the start of 2015, British personnel have trained over 9,500 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.