Britain Unveils Enhanced Military Support for Ukraine: New Aid Package Announced

Kiev (Uttam Hindu News): Britain is ready to increase Ukraine's military power with a new aid package. A new aid package has been announced. Which includes naval drones, air defense systems and artillery. British Defense Secretary John Haley gave this information.

Training for Ukrainian troops under Operation Interflex, the UK-led multinational military operation, will continue into 2025, regardless of any progress in the Ukrainian peace process or a potential ceasefire, Haley said on Wednesday in an interview with the Ukrainian state Ukrinform news agency.

"Three years after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the depth of his misgivings is clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unwavering spirit. But they cannot go it alone," Haley said.

He said Britain's support for Kiev is unwavering and that Britain will always stand shoulder to shoulder against Putin. In July the new Labour government pledged £3 billion a year in military aid to Ukraine until 2030-2031.

The new package will include 92 million pounds for equipment to strengthen Ukraine's navy, including small boats, reconnaissance drones and unmanned surface ships, the defence ministry said in a statement.

He said it would be premature to publicly discuss the possibility of British support for the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Haley arrived in Kyiv earlier on Wednesday, local media reported, and the same day Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umarov wrote on Facebook that he had spoken to Haley about strengthening Ukraine's air defense, ensuring uninterrupted supplies of artillery ammunition and exploring joint defense projects.

He said the use of Storm Shadow missiles and further training of new brigades of the Ukrainian army were also discussed. Apart from this, 68 million pounds will be used for air defense equipment including radars and 1 thousand counter-drone electronic warfare systems will be supplied to the Ukrainian army at a cost of 39 million pounds.

Haley said the UK would also boost the training programme for Ukrainian soldiers run with key allies on British soil, known as Operation Interflex, which has seen 51,000 recruits trained since mid-2022. Umerov thanked the UK for its support and said a stable supply of ammunition, especially for artillery, is extremely important to our defence efforts.

He said the two men had reviewed the results of using Storm Shadow missiles but did not provide details. London gave Kiev the green light to launch the British-supplied long-range missiles at Russia for the first time in November.