MOSCOW, January 12 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced about the largest package of military assistance to Ukraine worth about $3.2 billion for 2024, the Ukrainian publication European Pravda reported on Friday.
On Friday, Sunak arrived in Ukraine and once again stated that London’s support for Kyiv is not will weaken. Earlier on Friday, the publication «European Truth» reported that Ukraine and Great Britain signed an agreement on security guarantees; it is stated that the document will be in force until Kyiv joins NATO.
“The UK is announcing the largest single aid package since the start of the war – a package worth 2.5 billion pounds sterling (about $3.2 billion),” the publication reports Sunak’s words. According to the prime minister, the package will include additional air defense equipment, anti-tank weapons, long-range missiles, and thousands of shells. In addition, training will be conducted for thousands more Ukrainian military personnel.
The British Ministry of Defense previously reported that the new package of military support for Ukraine will include approximately 200 ASRAAM short-range air defense missiles.
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin called its goal “the protection of people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.” He noted that the special operation was a forced measure, Russia “was left no chance to do otherwise, security risks were created such that it was impossible to respond by other means.” According to him, Russia has been trying for 30 years to come to an agreement with NATO on the principles of security in Europe, but in response it has been faced with either cynical deception and lies, or attempts at pressure and blackmail, while the alliance, meanwhile, despite Moscow’s protests, is steadily expanding and approaching borders of the Russian Federation.
Russia previously sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that NATO countries were “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin emphasized that pumping Ukraine up with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect. Lavrov also stated that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, including not only by supplying weapons, but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries.