Admiral Tony Radakin asked to stay on as head of British Armed Forces

Admiral widely recognised for his relationship with Ukraine during war with Russia

Adml Sir Tony Radakin has been asked to stay in post for another year to continue his contributions to the Ukrainian war effort.
Sir Tony, 58, has been asked by the Prime Minister to stay on as the Chief of the Defence Staff until the Autumn next year.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in Ukraine in February 2022, Sir Tony has travelled to Kyiv multiple times to show his support and meet with members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, including meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president.
In August last year he met his counterpart, Gen Valery Zaluzhny, the former head of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which Sir Tony said marked a number of “regular meetings” the two had had since the invasion.
After the visit, Sir Tony posted a picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he said the men “discussed the Ukrainian counter-offensive”.
Sir Tony was set to retire this November, having served three years in the post, however his extension has now been signed off by the King, according to The Times.
In a speech on Wednesday at the Policy Exchange think tank, John Healey, the shadow defence minister, announced that under a Labour government all the service chiefs would be appointed for four years in their role as opposed to the usual two-year posting.
Mr Healey said he would also make it mandatory that the chief of the defence staff reports directly into Parliament.
Sir Tony’s role in advising Ukraine’s military has been widely regarded. US officials told The New York Times last year that Sir Tony’s role in the invasion had been “especially important”.
A source close to Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, told The Telegraph that Mr Shapps respected Sir Tony’s experience and saw him as an “ally” who wants to “improve the armed forces and ensure it is prepared to defend the UK”.
In a speech to Chatham House on Tuesday, Sir Tony asked those gathered to “look at all we have contributed over the past two-and-a-half years”.
He spoke of the UK having strengthened its commitment to Nato, as well as “leading and galvanising the response in Ukraine”.