UK pledges $3.6 billion in military support for Ukraine, to deliver artillery barrels, mobile air defense
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article misstated that the U.K. had announced $2.6 billion in new military aid to Ukraine. The $2.6 billion pledged by the U.K. is part of a G7 loan program to Kyiv that will be paid back using frozen Russian assets.
The United Kingdom will also provide new military aid for Ukraine, including 150 artillery barrels, a mobile air defense system, and an expanded training initiative with allied nations, the government announced on Jan. 16.
This year, the U.K. plans to deliver unprecedented military support to Ukraine, with 3 billion pounds ($3.6 billion) already committed for lethal aid.
“This funding will not only support Ukraine but also bolster the U.K.’s defense industry, creating jobs across the country,” the statement reads.
The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his second visit to Kyiv, marking his first trip since assuming office in July 2024. Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 100-year partnership agreement to ensure long-term cooperation during the visit.
The first 1.5 billion pounds ($1.8 billion) of a 2.26-billion-pound ($2.7 billion) loan, part of the G7 loan program to Kyiv, will also be released for major procurement projects. The loan will be repaid using profits from immobilized Russian assets.
The military aid includes artillery barrels manufactured by Sheffield Forgemasters, the first such production in the U.K. in over 20 years. The barrels are expected to be delivered to Ukraine within weeks.
The U.K. will also provide a mobile air defense system developed in partnership with Denmark, aimed at enhancing Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.
The training initiative builds on the success of Operation Interflex, which trained over 51,000 Ukrainian recruits in the past two years. The U.K. plans to expand this effort in collaboration with international allies.
In the days leading up to Starmer's visit, Bloomberg reported that Starmer and Zelensky were set to discuss the potential deployment of an international peacekeeping force to Ukraine during the trip.
Martin Fornusek
