Ukraine’s allies on Friday pledged military aid worth €21 billion ($23.8 billion) as the country continues to be under attack from Russia, UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced.
“I’m impressed and grateful for the announcements and pledges, for the support packages from partners around the world”, said acting German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
The British and German ministers co-chaired an international meeting to raise and coordinate further military aid for Ukraine at NATO headquarters in Brussels at which about 40 countries were represented.
“This will have an impact on the battlefield for sure already this year,” Pistorius said.
“Peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future,” he said. “We will ensure that Ukraine continues to benefit from our joint military support. Russia needs to understand that Ukraine is able to go on fighting and we will support it.”
“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin said he wanted peace, but he continues to drag his feet and delay the negotiations,” Healey said.
“Putin said he wanted peace, but his forces continue to fire on Ukraine, military and civilian targets alike,” he added.
Germany revealed long-term plans at the meeting to support Kyiv with more than 1,100 ground surveillance radars and additional IRIS-T air defence missile systems.
In addition to long-term pledges, Ukraine will receive four more IRIS-T systems plus 300 guided missiles and 100 ground surveillance radars this year, Pistorius said.
A further 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, 120 Manpads ground-based air defence systems and 14 artillery systems will be provided by Berlin, he said.
Germany recently delivered 30 additional Patriot-guided missiles to Ukraine.
Healey announced UK contributions worth £350 million ($458.2 million) including radar systems, anti-tank mines, new drones and fresh funding to repair and maintain battlefield equipment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth joined the meeting by video link.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who briefed his counterparts on what defence equipment his armed forces currently need most urgently, thanked the contributing nations.
“We are trying to stay on our feet and go ahead as a European nation,” he said.
Military sources recently warned that Ukraine could face significant military difficulties by the end of the summer if its partners do not commit to further military aid.
Ukraine has been defending itself from a full-scale Russian attack for more than three years, with the help of Western aid.
GNA
