In addition to the GBP 2.2 billion loan announced yesterday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged an additional GBP 1.6 billion for Ukraine to purchase air defense missiles that will be manufactured in Britain.
Starmer made this announcement during a press conference following the European leaders’ summit on Ukraine in London, Ukrinform reports, citing The Guardian.
According to him, the funding will allow Ukraine “to buy more than 5,000 air defense missiles, which will be made in Belfast, creating jobs in our brilliant defense sector.”
“This will be vital for protecting critical infrastructure now and strengthening Ukraine in securing the peace when it comes because we have to learn from the mistakes of the past. We cannot accept a weak deal like Minsk, which Russia can breach with ease,” Starmer said.
He said he had called today’s meeting “to unite our partners around this effort to strengthen Ukraine, and to support a just and enduring peace for the good of all of us.”
“Our starting point must be to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position now so that they can negotiate from a position of strength, and we are doubling down in our support,” he added.
Starmer also noted that leaders agreed to keep the military aid flowing and increase the economic pressure on Russia, and they will insist that Ukraine needs to be at the table for any peace talks.
He reaffirmed plans to assemble “a coalition of the willing” to enforce any peace deal, with the UK set to take a leading role.
“We will go further develop a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace. Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can’t mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others,” Starmer said.
Photo: Claudia Greco/Pool
Source: Starmer announces GBP 1.6B package for Ukraine for air defense missiles
