Asger Risom
UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the international effort—co-hosted by the UK and Germany in Brussels—aims to “apply pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
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The British government has pledged a new £450 million military aid package to Ukraine, calling 2025 a decisive year in the country’s defense against Russia’s invasion, as reported by Digi24.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey said the international effort—co-hosted by the UK and Germany in Brussels—aims to “apply pressure” on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
“We must step up efforts to deter Russian aggression by continuing to strengthen Ukraine’s defense,” he added.
The new support includes funding for hundreds of thousands of drones, anti-tank mines, radar systems, and critical repairs to military vehicles. Roughly £350 million will come directly from the UK, while Norway will contribute through the British-led International Fund for Ukraine.
Frontline Support and Equipment Repairs
A significant portion of the aid—£160 million—is allocated to repair and maintain equipment previously supplied by the UK, while more than £250 million will go toward frontline gear, including drones and anti-tank systems.
“This is a major package to support Ukraine’s frontline fight,” Healey said. “2025 is a critical year for Ukraine.
Our job as defense ministers is to put in Ukrainian fighters’ hands what they need.”
The latest support builds on earlier commitments from the UK. Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £1.6 billion missile agreement with Ukraine and a £2.2 billion loan backed by profits from frozen Russian assets to further bolster military assistance.
Europe Steps Up as U.S. Scales Back
Friday’s meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, traditionally led by the U.S., was instead co-chaired by Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
The shift reflects the United States’ reduced leadership role in European security under President Donald Trump.
The gathering follows a separate summit of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” where 30 defense ministers met to discuss deploying a stabilization force in Ukraine aimed at ensuring long-term peace.
Healey clarified that the UK does not currently support a buffer force along the conflict line but emphasized the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s military as a central pillar of any postwar arrangement.
Despite the latest funding, UK Liberal Democrats have argued that more is needed. Party spokesperson Helen Maguire welcomed the new aid but called it “a drop in the bucket compared to what is required to stop Putin’s barbaric war.”
She urged the government to go further by confiscating Russian assets held in the UK to fund future support.