Britain announced a new military aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, committing £225 million ($286 million) for 2024.
The package, designed to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, includes drones, boats, and air defense systems.
The announcement followed a visit to Kyiv by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who held discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, on Wednesday.
Healey pledged to expand British support in 2025, underscoring the UK’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
“Three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit,” Healey stated. He emphasized, however, that Ukraine cannot fight alone. “The UK’s support for Kyiv is ironclad,” he declared, adding that Britain will remain steadfastly “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine to ensure “Putin cannot win.”
The Labour government, which came to power in July, had previously committed £3 billion annually in military aid to Ukraine until 2030-2031.
The newly announced funds allocate £92 million for naval enhancements, including reconnaissance drones, small boats, and uncrewed surface vessels.
Another £68 million will go towards air defense equipment, while £39 million will fund 1,000 counter-drone electronic warfare systems for Ukraine’s army.
The UK also plans to enhance its Operation Interflex training program, which has already trained 51,000 Ukrainian recruits in Britain since mid-2022.
“With Putin resorting to sending as many as 2,000 Russian soldiers to their deaths on the battlefield each day, it is critical that Ukraine is supported with a supply of properly trained and equipped soldiers,” a statement from the UK Ministry of Defence highlighted.
Healey suggested that UK forces might conduct training within Ukraine itself. In an interview with The Times Daily, he stated the UK is ready to adapt its training programs to better meet Ukraine’s needs.
When asked about training Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil, he responded, “We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.”
Umerov expressed gratitude for the UK’s assistance, emphasizing the importance of a steady ammunition supply, particularly for artillery, in Ukraine’s defense strategy.
He noted that the two defense chiefs discussed the effectiveness of the UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, though details were not disclosed.
In a significant move in November, the UK authorized Ukraine to deploy long-range Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was scheduled to meet NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels late Wednesday to address strategic priorities amid concerns over Donald Trump’s potential return to power in the United States.
As Ukrainian troops face mounting pressure along the frontline, with reports of Moscow deploying North Korean forces, Western allies are ramping up support to bolster Kyiv’s resilience.
