- Prime Minister will urge Allies to ensure Ukrainians have the
means to continue to protect themselves at NATO and G7 summits
today [Thurs]
- UK will provide 6,000 new defensive missiles and £25m for
Ukraine’s armed forces
- Leaders meeting in Brussels are expected to discuss
longer-term military, diplomatic and humanitarian support for
Ukraine and strengthening measures against Russia
The Prime Minister will announce a major new package of support
for Ukraine today [Thursday] at the NATO and G7 leaders’
meetings, as he calls on the international community to stay the
course on Ukraine and stand against tyranny.
The measures announced today include 6,000 missiles, consisting
of anti-tank and high explosive weapons, and £25 million in
financial backing for the Ukrainian military. This more than
doubles the defensive lethal aid provided to date to more than
10,000 missiles, and comes on top of the £400 million the UK has
committed in humanitarian and economic aid for the crisis. The
Prime Minister will set out the UK’s intention to work with
partners to bolster Ukraine’s defence capabilities, including
longer-range targeting and intelligence, as the Ukrainian people
face down an unprovoked invasion.
The UK will also provide an additional £4.1 million for the BBC
World Service as part of a cross-government effort to tackle
disinformation in Russia and Ukraine, as well as new financial
and policing support for the International Criminal Court’s
investigation into war crimes.
One month into the conflict, the Prime Minister will welcome NATO
and the G7’s unified stance on Ukraine and collective action on
economic, military and diplomatic measures. He will urge Allies
and partners to step up a gear in response to Russia’s use of
increasingly brutal tactics, including by providing enhanced
defensive support to Ukraine and doubling down on economic
sanctions against the Kremlin.
Prime Minister said:
“Vladimir Putin is already failing in Ukraine. The Ukrainian
people have shown themselves to be extraordinarily brave and
tenacious in defending their homeland, in the face of an
unprovoked onslaught.
“But we cannot and will not stand by while Russia grinds
Ukraine’s towns and cities into dust. The United Kingdom will
work with our allies to step up military and economic support to
Ukraine, strengthening their defences as they turn the tide in
this fight.
“One month into this crisis, the international community
faces a choice. We can keep the flame of freedom alive in
Ukraine, or risk it being snuffed out across Europe and the
world.”
The UK has already provided over 4,000 anti-tank weapons to
Ukraine’s armed forces, including Next-Generation Light Anti-Tank
Weapons Systems, or NLAWs, and Javelin missiles. The Government
is also supplying Starstreak high-velocity anti-air missiles to
help Ukrainians defend themselves against aerial bombings, as
well as body armour, helmets and combat boots.
The £25 million in new non-ODA funding from the FCDO’s Conflict
Security and Stabilisation Fund will help to pay the salaries of
Ukrainian soldiers, pilots and police and ensure the armed forces
are well equipped with high-quality equipment. The UK has
committed £400 million in humanitarian and economic support to
date, complementing the huge generosity of the British public,
and donated more than 4 million items of medical equipment and
500 mobile generators.
In further support announced today, the BBC World Service will
receive an additional £4.1 million in emergency funding to
support its Ukrainian and Russian language services in the
region, and to help it create content to counter disinformation
about the war in Ukraine. The funding has been provided by the
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and
FCDO.
The Justice Secretary, , will also chair a meeting of
justice and foreign ministers in the Hague today to coordinate
support for the International Criminal Court’s war crimes
investigations. The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to announce
an additional £1 million in funding for the court, as well as new
support from UK soldiers with expertise in intelligence gathering
and the Met Police’s War Crimes Team.
