British Defence Minister Calls on Europe to Intensify Support for Ukraine
The British Defence Minister, Grant Shapps, has emphasized the need for European countries to step up and provide increased financial assistance to Ukraine. According to him, in the realm of supporting Ukraine, the United Kingdom currently leads with a "£2.5 billion package and a security agreement," as reported by The Guardian.
"Not only the United States but also Europe must actively engage and contribute to ensuring that Ukraine can continue to defend itself," stated the British official. Shapps also highlighted on his Twitter account that the UK has elevated its aid to Ukraine to a record level while simultaneously countering threats in the Red Sea.
"In doing so, we have thwarted the hopes of tyrants like Putin, who naively believed that numerous crises could distract us. Great Britain can and will act where necessary," emphasized the Defence Minister. Earlier in January, Grant Shapps stated that 2024 should be a "turning point" and a year when the "fate of the nation" might be decided. He also specified that since the onset of full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine has trained 60,000 military personnel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On January 12, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a security agreement, officially solidifying various forms of support that the United Kingdom has provided and will continue to provide to enhance Ukraine's security. This encompasses intelligence exchange, cybersecurity, medical and military training, as well as cooperation in the defence industry.
This agreement marks the first among security accords following agreements reached during the NATO Summit in Vilnius between Ukraine, members of the G7, and the states that subsequently joined them.
Ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also confirmed that the United Kingdom will provide £2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine in the 2024-25 fiscal years. This amount is £200 million more than in the previous two years.
This assistance will enable Ukraine to leverage the best military expertise and defence products from the United Kingdom to secure victory on the battlefield in critical areas such as long-range missiles, anti-air defence, artillery ammunition, and maritime security.