Photo: EPA
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stressed that, amid recent developments in the Middle East, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is trying to divert attention away from Ukraine.
The United Kingdom has announced its largest-ever drone support package for Ukraine, which предусматриває the delivery of at least 120,000 drones this year. London also noted that the program is intended to support production growth and create new jobs in the UK.
It is reported that UK Defence Secretary John Healey is heading to Berlin, where he will co-chair the 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group together with his German counterpart. Representatives from 50 countries are taking part, including German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“In light of recent developments in the Middle East, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is seeking to distract our attention, but Ukrainians continue to fight bravely, and we will not abandon our support until peace is achieved,” Healey said.
In particular, the new package includes the supply of thousands of long-range strike drones, reconnaissance and surveillance UAVs, logistics drones, and maritime systems. All of these have already been tested in combat in Ukraine, and deliveries of some drones began this month.
The drone package is also part of the UK’s broader military support for Ukraine, totaling £3 billion and including funding through the ERA mechanism. Separately, the defence secretary is expected to confirm the delivery of hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of air defense missiles to Ukraine over the course of the year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated in an interview with ZDF that the war in Iran is negatively affecting the volume of aid to Ukraine. He emphasized the severe shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, noting that the current deficit could not be worse.
