Ukraine to get £150m of military support to help bolster air and maritime defences

An additional £150m is being provided to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities, the UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) has announced.

A package of up to £70m of air defence equipment and £80m worth of maritime equipment will provide Ukraine's armed forces with more weapons to repel Moscow's illegal invasion.

The announcement was made as Defence Secretary Grant Shapps met members of the Northern Group security forum in Lithuania.

• China now playing active role by arming Russia for war in Ukraine, Shapps says
• Russia gaining momentum as Ukrainian defenders desperately wait for more support
• Let Ukraine use Western weapons in Crimea, Defence Secretary urges Nato allies

Mr Shapps said: "The International Fund for Ukraine is providing vital support to the armed forces of Ukraine, specifically tailored to meet their most urgent capability requirements.

"With more than £900m of funds raised between the UK and our allies from Europe to the Pacific, the IFU continues to prove the strength of support around the world for Ukraine’s fight to defend freedom and democracy.

"This new package of support includes more air defence systems to protect Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, as well as maritime capabilities to help Ukraine continue to bolster its naval forces."

What will Ukraine receive?

The IFU package will include air defence radars, counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) and electronic warfare systems.

Alongside this defensive equipment, the UK and its allies have approved an £80m package to procure and supply maritime capabilities for Ukraine.

This will include small boats, reconnaissance drones and uncrewed surface vessels, loitering munitions and underwater mine countermeasure drones which will support the UK and Norway joint-led Maritime Capability Coalition.

The announcement was made as the Defence Secretary met his counterparts at a meeting of Northern Group members in Lithuania.

The alliance is made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK.

The news comes as Mr Shapps urged Germany and other allies to give Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky permission to use the weapons they supplied to strike targets in Crimea.