Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that Britain will increase its defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade. In addition, he announced another 62 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine.
Sunak made this announcement during a visit to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. He also promised to send more weapons to Ukraine. News from AFP
He said his government was taking Britain’s defense industry to “warfare” and described it as “the strongest our national defense has been in this generation”.
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“The world is now in the most dangerous situation since the Cold War, we cannot be complacent,” Sunak told reporters standing next to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Warsaw. As our adversaries form alliances we must do more to defend our country, our interests and our values.”
Britain is reportedly pledging another $620 million in new military supplies for Ukraine ahead of the announcement. These supplies include long-range missiles and 4 million rounds of ammunition. It comes at a time when Ukraine is struggling to hold its own against advancing Russian forces on the eastern front of the Ukraine war.
Sunak spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to confirm this cooperation and assured him of prompt cooperation in the defense of Ukraine against Russia’s brutal and expansionist ambitions.
Ahead of the visit, the British government announced that Sunak would provide £500 million ($620 million) worth of new military supplies, including 400 vehicles, 60 boats, 100 weapons and 4 million rounds of ammunition. The supply will include the British Storm Shadow long-range missile, which can travel up to 150 miles and has been proven capable of hitting Russian targets.
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President Zelensky thanked the prime minister for Britain’s continued cooperation, saying the new military aid would be very positive for ordinary Ukrainians fighting on the border to defend their country, Downing Street said.
But Downing Street gave no indication whether the aid would be sent immediately. Zelensky appealed for more international aid, saying that without it his country would lose the war.
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