Britain has announced a major new support package for Ukraine, including £752 million in funding and 120,000 drones, as senior ministers attend high-level international meetings. The aid aims to bolster Kyiv's defences against Russia's ongoing invasion.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the £752 million payment in Washington DC, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The sum, part of a larger £3.36 billion loan, will be used to procure essential military equipment such as long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
Defence Secretary John Healey will unveil the UK's largest ever drone package for Ukraine at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in Berlin. The initiative includes 120,000 drones—encompassing long-range strike, reconnaissance, logistics, and maritime drones—many produced by UK-based companies.
Healey emphasised the importance of drones, which now account for most battlefield casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently noted that Ukrainian forces captured a Russian position using only ground-based and aerial drones for the first time.
Healey urged the public not to let the Middle East conflict distract from Ukraine, stating: “Nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them for as long as it takes to secure peace.” He will chair the UDCG meeting alongside German and Ukrainian counterparts and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
