Britain calls for 50-day drive to arm Ukraine
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British Defence Secretary John Healey told a meeting of 52 nations that the 50 days given to Russia to strike a peace deal with Ukraine was a moment of “maximum opportunity” for Kyiv's allies.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- UK urges a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine, capitalising on Trump's ultimatum to Russia, aiming to strengthen Kyiv's battlefield capabilities.
- Britain and Germany will partner to supply Ukraine with critical air defence missiles and 220,000 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition.
- The UK has pledged £700 million for Ukrainian air defence and artillery in 2024, supplementing drone deliveries vital to the war effort.
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LONDON – The British government on July 21 called for a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine to take advantage of a recent ultimatum put to Russia by US President Donald Trump.
Earlier in July, Mr Trump gave Russian President Vladimir Putin 50 days to strike a peace deal with Kyiv
British Defence Secretary John Healey told a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) that Kyiv’s backers stand at a moment of “maximum opportunity”.
“As members of this UDCG, we need to step up, in turn, a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table,” Mr Healey told the virtual meeting of 52 nations.
Mr Trump also pledged to supply Kyiv with new military aid, sponsored by Nato allies, as its cities suffer ever-increasing Russian aerial attacks since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Healey, chairing the meeting alongside German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, said Britain “backs this policy”.
“We will play our full part in its success,” he added.
Russia has escalated long-range aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities as well as front-line assaults and shelling over recent months, defying Mr Trump’s warning.
Mr Healey said Britain and Germany have “agreed to partner in providing critical air defence missiles to Ukraine”.
Mr Pistorius said the two countries would provide 220,000 rounds of 35mm ammunition for anti-aircraft guns used by Ukraine.
According to the British Defence Ministry, Britain has sent £150 million (S$260 million) worth of air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months.
Britain has pledged to spend £700 million on air defence and artillery ammunition for Ukraine in 2025.
The commitment is in addition to other funding to provide more of the drones that have become key weapons in the war with Russia.
Some 50,000 drones have been delivered to Ukraine in the last six months, with another 20,000 coming from a coalition of nations led by Britain and Latvia. AFP
