24 February 2022
UK eyes more military aid for Ukraine
by Marc Selinger
The UK Ministry of Defence has supplied the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapons. (Crown Copyright)
The United Kingdom plans to send additional military aid to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against a further invasion by Russia, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons on 23 February.
“I can announce to the House that in the light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia, and in line with our previous support, the UK will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine,” Johnson said. “This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid.”
The UK has shipped 2,000 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine and has trained 22,000 of its soldiers. “Britain has done everything possible to help Ukraine to prepare for another onslaught,” Johnson said on 22 February.
Johnson's announcement of additional aid came the same day that US Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby indicated that the US government is considering providing more assistance to Ukraine.
“We're still in discussions with them about what kind of support they might need going forward,” Kirby told reporters. “We're in constant consultations with them about their needs and what we can provide.”
The United States has provided a total of USD2.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including USD650 million since 2021. According to the Congressional Research Service, Ukrainian officials have expressed interest in acquiring air-defence, anti-missile, and anti-ship systems.
Other countries that have announced security assistance to Ukraine include the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
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The United Kingdom plans to send additional military aid to Ukraine to help the country defend itsel...
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