UK Pledges £225 Million Military Aid Package to Ukraine

Defence Secretary John Healey is greeted by Ukrainian Defence Secretary Rustem Umerov at the Ministry of Defence during a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 18, 2024. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Defence Secretary John Healey has announced a new £225 million military aid package, alongside other measures to support Kyiv next year.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) outlined on Thursday that along with the funds, the UK will also build on training being offered to Ukrainian soldiers through Operation Interflex and increase cooperation with allies in joint support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The new support package includes £186 million to fund key military equipment through the International Fund for Ukraine.

Of this, £92 million will go towards Ukraine’s navy, including for small boats, reconnaissance drones, and uncrewed surface vessels. Another £68 million of this will go on air defence equipment and £26 million will provide support and spare parts for systems which have previously been delivered to Ukraine.

Some £39 million pays for more than 1,000 counter-drone electronic warfare systems and other equipment to enhance the protective capabilities of Ukraine’s military.

The UK will also equip Ukraine with explosive charges for more than 90,000 155 mm artillery rounds that can be used in the AS90 artillery units which London has already provided to Kyiv.

‘Step Up’ on Leadership

Healey said that the UK will “step up” its international leadership on Ukraine throughout next year.

Healey said: “We will enhance our offer of training to Ukraine and provide battle-winning capabilities, such as the drones and munitions included in our new £225m package today.

“Our support for Ukraine is ironclad, and during my meetings in Kyiv today, I made clear the UK’s support will continue for as long as it takes, regardless of the situation in Ukraine, and that we will always stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure [Russian President Vladimir] Putin cannot win.”

The defence secretary made the comments after visiting Kyiv on Wednesday, where he met with Ukrainian Defence Secretary Rustem Umerov and Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration Serhii Boyev, to discuss a joint plan for 2025 and to underline the UK’s commitment to Ukraine.

‘Frontline of Our Security’

The funding announcement came after the Financial Assistance to Ukraine Bill cleared the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The bill makes provision for loans or other financial assistance to be provided to Ukraine, and will allow the government to fulfil its commitment to provide the country with an additional £2.26 billion.

This is coming through the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loan scheme, which will be repaid using the profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has already committed £3 billion in military aid for each year as long as the war persists, on top of the £12.8 billion that the UK has already committed in military, economic, and humanitarian support.

Defence Secretary John Healey (R) with Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for European Integration Serhii Boyev (L), laying flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, which remembers those killed during the conflict with Russia, during a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 18, 2024. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

In a statement given to Parliament on Thursday, Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard provided an update on the UK’s support for Ukraine.

Reiterating many of the points already announced by Healey, Pollard added that the UK will continue to train Ukraine’s armed forces “throughout 2025” as part of Operation Interflex, saying, “We will continue to provide the training that Ukraine needs and be flexible to meet their requirements.”

Pollard told the Commons, “This Government is clear that the frontline of British and European security runs through Ukraine.”

UK’s Reserve Forces in Decline

While the UK has contributed billions in funding and military equipment to Ukraine, concerns have emerged in recent months regarding the impact of this generosity on Britain’s own military capabilities.

In September, Pollard admitted that donating military equipment to Ukraine has created “some capability gaps, especially in the British Army,” meaning that the UK now needs to backfill its own stock. In particular, he noted that the UK had sent “nearly all” of its AS90 artillery units to Kyiv.

The National Audit Office said that same month that Operation Interflex had reduced the capacity for British armed forces to maintain their own training programmes.

Starmer ordered the Strategic Defence Review in July to examine the UK’s current military, cyber, and nuclear capabilities, action prompted by recent global instability. He has also committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, but has not set a deadline for when that target will be hit.

Officials have warned that the British military has been hollowed out in the past decade. A report published this week found that the UK’s Reserve Forces are also in decline and struggling to recruit and retain personnel.