UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine passes £1 billion milestone
The Challenger 2 tank has been among the platforms sent to Ukraine during the course of the war. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Ukraine’s defence secretary met his UK opposite number in London to mark the milestone and push forward with new defence deals.
Ukraine’s defence secretary met his UK counterpart in London to mark a milestone in international military support spending for Ukraine's war of resistance against invasion by Russia.
Rustem Umerov’s visit marked the passing of the £1 billion point (US$1.3 billion) in military support for Ukraine, with eight countries joining the UK in the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The UK has single-handedly contributed £500 million to the fund.
Sir Keir Starmer, the UK’s relatively new Prime Minister, announced the IFU’s largest support package for Ukraine at the NATO Summit in July including a £300 million contract to supply 152mm artillery shells to supply Ukraine’s Soviet-era guns. He also confirmed £3 billion of UK aid for Ukraine per year for “as long as it takes”, even in the face of a reputed “£22 billion black hole” in the UK’s public finances which the government said it has discovered since taking office in July. The £3 billion annual donation is thought to be outside the remit of any domestic defence spending cuts announced by the former UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt in October last year.
Related Articles
European NATO countries reach average defence spending requirement and renew Ukrainian support
The £300 million artillery shell contract has now been signed and will be expected to deliver thousands of shells before the end of the year.
Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Norway all confirmed their intent this summer to invest additional money in the Fund to buy more drones to help on the frontline, as well as vital air defence capabilities.
UK defence secretary John Healey said: “The ongoing defensive operation in Kursk underlines the crucial importance of continued support and today’s milestone for the International Fund for Ukraine shows the value of working with our allies to deliver that support.”
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Defence Notes
-
![Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”]()
Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”
The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.
-
![Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force]()
Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force
It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.
-
![Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent]()
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
![UK begins process on new industrial strategy]()
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
