The UK Government is expected to allocate additional funding of £500m ($616m) to provide vital military equipment, platforms and ammunition to Ukraine.
The new military aid package will be announced today (23 April) by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his visit to Poland, where he will engage in discussions with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on strengthening UK-Poland relations.
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By GlobalDataSunak will also meet NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg to discuss enhancing support for Ukraine and strengthen European security.
The new funding, which brings total UK military aid for the financial year to £3bn, will support the procurement of “urgently needed” ammunition, drones, air defence systems and other engineering support.
Drones included in the package will be sourced within the UK to bolster domestic defence supply chains.
The comprehensive package further includes nearly four million rounds of small arms ammunition, additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles, more than 1,600 missiles for strike and air defence operations, and a fleet of more than 400 vehicles.
These vehicles include 162 armoured vehicles, 160 Husky protected mobility vehicles and 78 all-terrain vehicles.
Additionally, the maritime capabilities of Ukraine will be enhanced with the inclusion of 60 vessels such as dive boats, offshore raiding and rigid raiding craft, and maritime guns in the equipment package.
Sunak said: “Defending Ukraine against Russia’s brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe. If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at [the] Polish border.
“I am in Warsaw today to deepen ties with our Polish partners and commit critical new military support for Ukraine’s defence.
“Ukraine’s armed forces continue to fight bravely, but they need our support – and they need it now. Today’s package will help ensure Ukraine has what they need to take [the] fight to Russia.”
In a related development, the US Department of Defense has indicated readiness to commence the delivery of military capabilities to Ukraine following the House of Representatives’ approval of supplemental budget legislation on 20 April.
The bill awaits the Senate’s approval and President Joe Biden’s signature.
