By David Milliken
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain sent Ukraine 752 million pounds ($990 million) to buy air defences and artillery on Monday, part of a broader $50 billion international loan programme backed by frozen Russian assets, Britain’s government said.
“The world is changing before our eyes, reshaped by global instability, including Russian aggression in Ukraine,” finance minister Rachel Reeves said.
The Group of Seven advanced economies agreed an outline lending package in October 2024 – before the election of Donald Trump as president changed the United States’ approach to the conflict – and Reeves and her Ukrainian counterpart Serhiy Marchenko finalised details of Britain’s contribution in March.
Pressured by the United States’ increased reluctance to provide security in Europe, Britain’s government announced in February that it would raise defence spending from about 2.3% of national income to 2.5% by 2027 and 3% some time after 2029.
Monday’s payment to Ukraine is the second of three instalments totalling 2.26 billion pounds. The first was on March 6 and the final part will be paid next year.
Defence minister John Healey said Britain would give Ukraine 4.5 billion pounds of support this year and that the funds would be used to purchase air defences, artillery and spare parts for vehicles and other equipment.
Other British aid includes help by its defence ministry to procure radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones.
On Sunday two Russian ballistic missiles hit the centre of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy. Kyiv said the attack killed 34 people and wounded 117.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian commanding officers in the city.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attack.
Support in Britain for Ukraine’s military operations remains high across the public and most major political parties.
(Reporting by David Milliken; editing by William James)
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