British troops to join 'major' Ukraine wargames as Trump continues to sidle up to Putin

British troops will join their German and French counterparts for a major Ukraine wargame as the Coalition of the Willing doubles down its support for the nation - while Donald Trump continues to sidle up to Vladimir Putin .

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting announced this weekend that troops would make up a considerable force of 1,500 descending on Poland for the "major exercise" this November. He said while announcing the move in Washington DC, in the US, that servicemembers would be preparing to "prevail against Putin's aggression".

But it will come without US involvement, as Trump breaks the country's relationship with Ukraine and tries to broker a new relationship with Russia .

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Speaking in Washington DC, Streeting said: “Ukraine is the front line for freedom everywhere, and it’s absolutely vital that they prevail against Putin’s aggression. We’re planning for the peace and freedom we want to see through our leadership of the coalition of the willing.

“Next month thousands of personnel will take part in a major exercise in Poland to ensure we are ready to support the military training and post-war rebuilding that Ukraine will need.”

The exercise is aimed at ensuring Nato forces are ready to provide Ukraine with security guarantees once the war is over, but will be done without the pact's largest member. Trump has placed himself at loggerheads with the UK and other allies over the conflict by refusing to say President Putin sparked the Ukraine war.

When asked whether he had forgotten that it was the Russian leader who started the war, he did not respond directly and implied it was not straightforward. He said: “I know the details, OK, and at some point I’ll release the details.”

Trump added: “But I don’t care anything except for one. I want that war ended.” Trump also denied the US was responsible for the disruption to Kyiv’s access to the vital Starlink satellite communications system, leaving the country exposed to attack.

He made the comments after leaving the White House for a campaign rally in Georgia, came after he again rounded on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky .

He said he was “not a big fan” and claiming he was “more difficult to deal with than Putin”, and early on Saturday signed an executive order which put a hold on a new sanctions package targeting the Russian economy. The president said the pause was in the national interest of the US.