UK pledges £100 million to bolster Ukraine's air defences for winter

The United Kingdom has pledged £100 million to strengthen Ukraine's air defences over the coming winter, the British Defence Ministry announced ahead of a meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine. The funding package will include drone interceptors, artillery shells and additional unmanned aerial systems.

The announcement came shortly before the gathering of roughly 50 countries that provide military assistance to Kyiv. The meeting is being led by UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.

British ministers frame winter support as urgent

Streeting stressed the timing of the pledge, saying it responds to concerns that Russian forces may try to exploit winter conditions to intensify attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure. "The Prime Minister and I made it clear during our first visits to Kyiv that it is important to support Ukraine through the winter, because Putin is preparing to use winter as a weapon to continue his barbaric attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure," he said.

He added that the UK had mobilised partners to convert commitments into concrete capabilities. "We promised to mobilise allies and provide greater support wherever possible. Today we are delivering on that promise, strengthening Ukraine's defence and, together with 50 allies, turning commitment into capability," the British minister emphasised.

Streeting concluded with a pledge of long-term solidarity: "We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine until they prevail. The front in Ukraine is a front for freedom across the world and our support is unwavering," he added.

Photo: press material from the event