Russia's Lavrov criticises UK military aid to Ukraine, drawing comparisons to Afghanistan “I don’t like to poke around in other people’s pockets”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov responded to questions from journalists regarding the United Kingdom's plans to increase military spending and allocate £3 billion annually to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.

He drew parallels to the West's two-decade-long unsuccessful efforts in Afghanistan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

“I don’t know. I don’t like to poke around in other people’s pockets. But they constantly claim they will support Ukraine for as long as it takes. In Afghanistan, it took them 20 years. We’ll see how they manage in the Ukrainian direction,” Lavrov stated.

His comments came during a press conference following the II Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, where he was asked whether the funding would be sufficient for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, on October 30, the UK government presented its draft budget to Parliament, outlining a fiscal plan that includes tax increases and cuts to public spending. A significant portion of the proposed budget will bolster the national defence budget, while also reaffirming the UK’s commitment to military support for Ukraine.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced a £2.9 billion increase to the Ministry of Defence's budget for the next year, stating that this investment will ensure the UK comfortably meets its NATO obligations.

Furthermore, the government has committed to providing military aid to Ukraine amounting to £3 billion annually, "for as long as it takes."

This funding comes in addition to a £2.26 billion loan, financed by frozen Russian assets, which the government revealed last week. The Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, assumed power in July following a decisive electoral victory. The draft budget seeks to address "a decade and a half" of economic stagnation while also tackling high national debt levels.

Notably, despite the current financial challenges, the Labour budget does not propose reductions in military aid to Ukraine, building upon the commitments made by the previous administration. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had pledged last May to maintain the annual £3 billion support for Ukraine "for as long as is necessary."

The UK has consistently demonstrated strong support for Ukraine, standing alongside the US and Germany. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the UK has committed over $9 billion in military assistance to bolster Ukraine's defence efforts.

By Aghakazim Guliyev