The key component of the strategy for deterring the aggressor is the building up of the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as their readiness for any development, Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces Viktor Muzhenko has said during a meeting with Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom Gavin Williamson.

"We especially appreciate the help from the UK, which is provided by British instructors in the framework of the Orbital training mission", the press service of Ukraine's Armed Forces quoted Muzhenko as saying on Monday.

Williamson said material and technical and advisory assistance to the Ukrainian side for the UK is not an end in itself. Teaching Ukrainians, British instructors learn a lot from them, for example, endurance and response to changes in operational conditions, he said.

I see things very simply: Ukraine is a sovereign state and its sovereignty was attacked from the outside. The very fact that we are providing Ukraine with assistance is a deterrent. It is very useful that you are on the path of reform, changing your thinking and approaches, he said.

Also during the meeting the parties discussed the directions of further cooperation.

As earlier reported, Operation Orbital has been conducted since 2015 within the framework of cooperation between the defense departments of Ukraine and Britain. Instructors from the British army, most of whom have considerable experience of participating in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, train Ukrainian military personnel in accordance with modern requirements of NATO standards.