British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the UK will provide Ukraine with access to £1.6 billion ($2 billion) in British export finance to purchase over 5,000 air defense missiles.
Speaking at a press conference after a defense summit in London, Starmer emphasized that this support is crucial for protecting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and strengthening its defenses. The summit, attended by Western leaders, including European heads of state and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, focused on advancing a peace plan for Ukraine.
Starmer outlined a four-step approach agreed upon by the leaders to ensure lasting peace: maintaining military aid to Ukraine while increasing economic pressure on Russia, securing Ukraine’s sovereignty with its involvement in peace negotiations, deterring future Russian aggression, and forming a “coalition of the willing” to uphold peace and defend Ukraine.
The prime minister reaffirmed Britain’s commitment, stating, “Europe must do the heavy lifting” while also acknowledging the importance of U.S. support. He added that the UK, France, and Ukraine are working on a ceasefire plan to present to the U.S., focusing on three key elements: a strong Ukraine, European security guarantees, and U.S. backing.
The summit followed diplomatic tensions after a dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, which led to the cancellation of a raw materials agreement. However, in a separate meeting at 10 Downing Street, Starmer reassured Zelensky of the UK’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s defense. Following the discussions, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko confirmed that Britain and Ukraine had agreed on a £2.26 billion loan to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
