The Prime Minister made the announcement at today’s NATO Leaders’ Summit that the UK will continue to support Ukraine militarily with an additional $1 billion (Thursday 30th June).
The international community’s assistance for Ukraine will enter a new chapter as a result of this increase in funds.
It will be used to purchase advanced air defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, cutting-edge new electronic warfare gear, and hundreds of pieces of essential equipment for Ukrainian military.
It is the first step toward enabling Ukraine to launch offensive operations against Russian ground forces in order to reclaim its sovereignty after mounting a gallant defense against the illegitimate Russian invasion.
Leading the charge in giving Ukraine essential military support is the UK. With today’s statement, the UK has provided more military aid than any other nation save the United States, totaling £2.3 billion since the conflict began.
More than 5,000 Northern Ireland-made NLAW anti-tank missiles, 155mm self-propelled guns, long-range multiple launch rocket systems, and a UK start-up company’s quick design and production of short- to medium-range persistent loitering munitions are just a few examples of the support provided thus far.
The UK is providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with a thorough new training program, the UK’s Prime Minister also stated last week, to assist them develop long-term resilience in the face of ongoing Russian savagery.
Since the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the UK’s backing for Ukraine reflects the highest rate of military spending on a single battle.
The Prime Minister urged partners to increase their support in order to provide Ukraine the strategic resilience it needs yesterday during a speech to a special gathering of NATO leaders.
Deputy Prime Minister:
Ukraine continues to lose people to Putin’s violence, endangering the continent’s peace and security.
Putin’s attacks against the Ukrainian people are becoming more and more brutal as he fails to achieve the victories he had planned and hoped for and as everyone realizes that this war is pointless.
Ukraine’s defenses against this assault are being transformed by British weapons, gear, and training. And we’ll keep supporting the Ukrainian people wholeheartedly to make sure Putin loses in Ukraine.
The UK military assistance is assisting the booming UK defense sector in addition to strengthening and maintaining the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The UK’s defense industry was represented by the Defence Secretary last week at a meeting in Downing Street to examine ways to expand production in response to the increased demand brought on by the situation in Ukraine.
UK defense firms are coming up to offer the crucial assistance Ukraine needs. Through a Berkshire-based business, we have given away unmanned aerial vehicles worth £100 million.
With the help of these orders, the company has been able to significantly scale up manufacturing and apply the lessons learned from the Ukraine crisis to inform product development, furthering years of research and development that will directly benefit the UK and the defense sector.
A £25 million innovation fund has also been established by the MoD to encourage small and medium-sized businesses in the UK to use specialized technologies.
The competition will focus on enhancing the current provision for artillery, coastal defense, and aerial systems. The financing will hasten the development of equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Ben Wallace, the defense secretary, said:
The United Kingdom has a genuine and ongoing commitment to Ukraine, and we will support them until Russia modifies its policies.
By providing them with the necessary defense capabilities, this military support will enable them to step up their resistance to Russian aggression.
In addition to the £1.5 billion in humanitarian aid and economic assistance the UK has given to Ukraine since February, the country now also has military backing.
The increased pledges to NATO’s collective defenses that the Prime Minister pledged at the Summit yesterday are in addition to this support for Ukraine.