British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced this Friday in kyiv a new military aid package for Ukraine in its war against Russia and the signing of a ten-year security agreement between both countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is trying to mobilize Western powers to maintain their aid, said that this is an “unprecedented” security agreement. “We are one of Ukraine’s main supporters, particularly when it comes to military aid,” Sunak declared.
The aid includes a wide range of weapons and ammunition that are in short supply in Ukraine, such as artillery shells and thousands of drones for the country that has faced an invasion from Russia for almost two years.
Sunak urged Western powers to redouble their support for Ukraine. “If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there,” said the British head of government.
In detail, British military aid for the year 2024/2025 will rise to 2.5 billion pounds ($3.19 billion). This contribution, greater by 200 million pounds (255 million dollars) than the aid of the previous two years, will be used to acquire long-range missiles, air defense, artillery ammunition and maritime security.
This support is commensurate with “the seriousness of the situation here” and “our determination” to support Ukraine, Sunak declared. “Putin may think that he can resist more than us, but he is wrong,” he said.
In total, London will have provided nearly 12 billion pounds ($17.8 billion) in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war. France, another ally of Ukraine, also sent its new foreign minister, Stéphane Séjourné, to kyiv, who will meet with Zelensky on Saturday.