British military aid adds 1.6 billion USD to Ukraine

British and Ukrainian officials with a shipment of British security aid to Ukraine reuters

Reuters news agency on May 8 reported that Britain pledged an additional 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in military aid to Ukraine, ahead of a phone call expected to take place between the leaders. G7 with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is one of the leaders who strongly support Ukraine in dealing with Russian forces, since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24.

Britain has sent anti-tank missiles, air defense systems and other weapons to Ukraine.

The new pledge nearly doubles previous UK aid commitments to Ukraine and the UK government says it is the highest spending on a conflict since wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to Prime Minister Johnson, Russia’s military campaign not only causes untold damage to Ukraine but also threatens peace and security in Europe. Last week, he became the first Western leader to address Ukraine’s parliament since Russia launched a military campaign.

Earlier on May 5, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the West of preventing Russia’s military campaign from ending “quickly” by supplying Kyiv with weapons.

According to him, the US, UK and the whole of NATO regularly provide intelligence to the Ukrainian armed forces.

“Along with the flow of weapons that these countries are sending to Ukraine, these are all actions that do not contribute to a quick end to the operation,” Peskov said.

However, the spokesman added that that “cannot prevent the achievement of the goals” of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.