UK announces further £450m military support to Ukraine

The UK government has announced an additional £450 million in military support for Kyiv. This announcement came during a meeting of 50 nations in Brussels, hosted by the UK and Germany.

Defence officials met to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. UK Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the need to bolster Ukraine's defenses.

The new package includes funding for drones, anti-tank mines, and vehicle repairs. The UK will provide about £350 million, with Norway contributing through the International Fund for Ukraine.

Included in this package is £160 million for repairs and maintenance of existing equipment. There is also a "close fight" military aid package worth over £250 million.

In January, the UK pledged £4.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Healey noted that this latest £450 million is part of that total.

After a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), Healey reported that allies pledged €21 billion (£18.2 billion) in new military aid. He called this a record boost for Ukraine.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius co-chaired the meeting with Healey. He stated that Germany would provide an additional €11 billion in aid until 2029.

Pistorius remarked that peace in Ukraine seems out of reach soon. He stressed that Russia must understand Ukraine can continue fighting.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer announced a £1.6 billion missile deal for Ukraine. This was alongside a £2.2 billion loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets.

The Liberal Democrats criticized Friday's support package as "small change." They urged the government to seize Russian assets in Britain to fund more support for Ukraine.

Traditionally, the UDCG was hosted by the US defence secretary until Donald Trump took office. Since then, Healey has taken over as chair due to US involvement changes.

Healey mentioned that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth attended Friday's meeting virtually along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

When asked about Hegseth's absence from the meeting, Pistorius said it was due to scheduling issues, not priorities. He confirmed Hegseth had just returned from abroad and other ministers faced similar challenges.

Pistorius emphasized Hegseth’s participation was what mattered most. He noted future US involvement and support would be observed but stressed Europe should take more responsibility.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov affirmed that the US remains Ukraine's primary partner providing security assistance.

On Thursday, defence ministers from 30 countries met in Brussels to discuss establishing a force in Ukraine for lasting peace.

Healey indicated he did not foresee a peacekeeping force separating warring sides but focused on strengthening Ukrainian armies instead.

Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief, stated further discussion is needed regarding any peacekeeping role in Ukraine. She questioned what goals such forces would serve if deployed on the ground.

Trump previously claimed he could end the war within 24 hours but achieved limited success so far. In March, Putin rejected Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire despite Kyiv's agreement to it.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Russia on Friday to meet with Putin according to Axios news site.

Meanwhile, fighting between Ukrainian and Russian troops has intensified recently according to Ukrainian military leaders. They reported assaults on the front line have increased by 30%.

These assaults are believed part of Russia's spring offensive preparations as Moscow gathers tens of thousands of troops near its border with Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Zelensky acknowledged Ukrainian troops are active in Russia’s Belgorod region bordering Ukraine. They have also fought in Russia’s Kursk region but lost most territory there afterward.