The UK Government has announced a new package of military, humanitarian and reconstruction support for Ukraine, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is convening a meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, following their January declaration with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signalling the UK’s intent to deploy British troops to Ukraine once peace is secured. A 70-person headquarters for the proposed Multinational Force for Ukraine is already operational, backed by £200 million in funding.
In Kyiv, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to condemn what she described as Russia’s campaign of “Russification” in temporarily occupied territories, including the forced adoption of Russian passports and suppression of Ukrainian language and media.
On the anniversary, Keir Starmer said: “On this grim anniversary, our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than ever. That is why we are announcing new support today and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.” He added: “Russia is not winning this war. They will not win this war. Ukraine’s courage continues to hold the line for our shared values, in the face of Putin’s aggression.”
The latest package includes £20 million in emergency energy funding to repair and protect Ukraine’s power grid, bringing total UK energy support since 2022 to more than £490 million. A further £5.7 million will be directed towards humanitarian assistance for frontline communities and those displaced by the conflict.
The UK will also expand medical mentoring for Ukrainian clinicians, with British military surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists continuing to advise on complex battlefield trauma care. Ukrainian pilots are now training at a UK air base to become helicopter flying instructors, marking the first time Britain has provided rotary-wing instructor training to Ukraine.
Yvette Cooper said: “Today I am shining a light on Russia’s disgraceful attempts to erase the Ukrainian identity, in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.” She added that “Russia can and must end this war. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “Four years after Putin launched his war to wipe Ukraine as a sovereign nation off the map, the UK is more determined than ever to stand strong with Ukraine.” He added: “I am determined that we make 2026 the year this brutal war ends.”
Wow, a whole 25 million and a speech from dear Mrs Balls.
2022 to more than £490 million
The headline was fresh package not re-re-re-announcing old stuff.
Yup, and that’s just for Energy Help. 👌
Any chance of UK announcing an aid package for UK forces to avoid more damaging cuts?
Whilst at the same time promising our forces as part of the coalition of the willing…you couldn’t make it up.
Fools errand going into Ukraine. What happens on the first patrol when the lead vehicle rolls over a mine and the driver loses his legs? Whats the actual benefit of us being there? 7500 soldiers and a front of 1000 kilometres. Its just the usual willy waving from our shitty leaders.
I’d support it if we had a larger and better equipped military.
Agree. The grandstanding and need to be seen to be a big player overrides the realities of our force structures to enable such.
When i was doing Iraq and Afghan we were at 100k regular troops. We were running hot then with 10k in Afghan and 7.5k in Iraq.
Now we’re meant to do this with everything else going on like Cabrit. How long for? Whats the mission actually going to be?
I was there when my friends died for a pointless war. Its easy to get into, much harder to get out of.
🤡
I agree, it’s just virtue signalling from Starmer.
Meanwhile, Torygraph, but you never know.
Intelligence agencies from throughout NATO are warning of Russian individuals and companies buying up real estate, from entire islands to individual buildings, close to varied NATO industrial, economic, and military targets.
Suspected as being launch pads for grey zone ops, flying Drones, conducting sabotage, intelligence gathering, storing kit, and so on.
One island in Finland had piers, heli pads, and other infrastructure built.
Detail on any Brit linked sites was sketchy obviously but included properties near SIS, the US embassy, property along the Clyde close to Faslane, and property in Cyprus close to the SBAs.
Some nations, like those closer to Russia, are taking a harder line while others, not so much.
I hope our intelligence community is all over this and twisting the arms of the imbeciles in government to take countermeasures.