UK pledges record £500m in Ukrainian aid as PM warns Putin won't stop
The UK will give Ukraine a record £500m package of military aid - along with the largest donation of key equipment so far, the Prime Minister has announced.
Rishi Sunak made the pledge as he travelled to Warsaw and Berlin with Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to meet the leaders of Poland, Germany and Nato.
The announcement came shortly after the US announced plans for £61bn in support to be sent to Ukraine.
"Defending Ukraine against Russia's brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe," said Mr Sunak.
The Government has said the new package could include nearly 400 vehicles, 1,600 munitions and four million rounds of ammunition.
"If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border," the PM warned.
"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.
"The United Kingdom will always play its part at the forefront of European security, defending our national interest and standing by our Nato allies."
The uplift takes UK military funding for Kyiv to £3bn in 2024/25, and to £7.6bn since the start of Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The Ministry of Defence will also send the largest-ever single package of equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air.
The package will include:
- 60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns
- 1,600 strike and air defence missiles and additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles
- 160 protected mobility Husky vehicles
- 162 armoured vehicles
- 78 all-terrain vehicles
- Four million rounds of small arms ammunition.
Mr Sunak is also expected to set out his goal to triple UK export finance funding available for Poland from £5bn to £15bn – the UK's most generous offer to a partner country to date.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This record package of military aid will give President Zelensky and his brave nation more of the kit they need to kick Putin out and restore peace and stability in Europe.
"The UK was the first to provide NLAW missiles, the first to give modern tanks and the first to send long-range missiles.
"Now we are going even further.
"We will never let the world forget the existential battle Ukraine is fighting, and with our enduring support they will win."
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