The United Kingdom has announced a new military support package worth £450 million for Ukraine, as international defence leaders gather in Brussels to coordinate efforts against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey, co-hosting the Ukraine Defence Contact Group alongside Germany, stated that the aim is to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster Ukraine’s resistance. “We must step up to deter Russian aggression by continuing to bolster Ukraine’s defences,” Healey emphasized.
The new support includes:
- £160 million for repairs and maintenance of UK-provided military equipment
- A “close fight” package valued at over £250 million, covering radar systems, anti-tank mines, and hundreds of thousands of drones
- Funding also includes a contribution from Norway via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine
Healey stressed the urgency of this moment: “2025 is a critical year for the war in Ukraine, and this is a critical moment. Our job as defence ministers is to get urgent military aid into the hands of Ukrainian war fighters.”
The UK has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine militarily. Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged a £1.6 billion missile package and a £2.2 billion loan to provide further aid, backed by profits from frozen Russian assets.
Despite the new pledge, the Liberal Democrats criticized the amount, calling it “small change” and urging the government to seize more Russian assets in the UK to fund Ukraine’s defence.
The Brussels meeting also marks a leadership shift in the Contact Group, traditionally chaired by the US. Since Donald Trump became US President, the UK has taken a more central role, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth attending virtually. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also joined remotely.
Talks also touched on the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, although UK and EU officials emphasized that its purpose and form remain undecided.
Meanwhile, military activity is escalating. Ukrainian commanders report a 30% increase in Russian assaults over the past week, possibly signaling the start of a Russian spring offensive. Tens of thousands of Russian troops are reportedly stationed near the border. On Thursday night, Russia launched drone strikes on Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, injuring four people, while Ukraine’s drones targeted Kursk and Belgorod in Russia.
In a shift of narrative, President Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces are active inside Russian territory for the first time, particularly in Belgorod and Kursk. Although most of that ground has since been reclaimed by Russia, these cross-border actions underline the conflict’s growing intensity.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c705njr9415o