Iceland provides $30 million in military aid to Ukraine

Iceland has pledged a significant financial contribution to Ukraine, transferring $30 million in aid to support the country's defence needs.

The announcement was made by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha during a joint press conference with his Icelandic counterpart, Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, on January 7, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

Sybiha confirmed the assistance, specifying that the $30 million aid package is earmarked specifically for Ukraine's defence sector. He further revealed that discussions with the Icelandic Foreign Minister also centered around the potential for expanding military production cooperation between the two nations.

In response to the international arms support for Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed strong opposition. Lavrov stated that the delivery of weapons to Ukraine by NATO member states, including the United States, not only escalates the conflict but also directly implicates these countries in the war. He warned that any shipments of arms to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets for Russian forces.

Lavrov also emphasized that Western nations, by supplying arms and providing military training on their territories, are deepening their involvement in the conflict. He reiterated the Kremlin's stance that such actions hinder peace negotiations and have a detrimental effect on the prospects for resolving the crisis.

The $30 million aid from Iceland comes as part of a broader international effort to bolster Ukraine's defence capabilities in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion. While Iceland's support is relatively modest in comparison to other NATO members, it underscores the strong international solidarity with Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

By Vafa Guliyeva