UK pledges £200 million to lead multinational force for Ukraine

The UK government has allocated £200 million to prepare the British Armed Forces for potential deployment as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU), Defence Secretary John Healey announced during a visit to Ukraine.

The funding is intended to equip UK forces to help secure Ukraine’s future and reinforce long-term security guarantees, following a declaration of intent signed earlier this week in Paris by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Ukraine. The declaration confirms that British and French troops would deploy to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the £200 million—allocated for the current financial year—will be used specifically to support preparations for any MNFU deployment. This includes upgrades to military vehicles and communications systems, enhanced counter-drone protection, and additional force-protection equipment to ensure troops are ready to deploy if required.

The capital investment will be drawn from the core defence budget and is intended to signal the UK’s commitment to leading the MNFU, honouring its pledges to support peace in Ukraine, and delivering what the government describes as a “new deal” for European security.

Speaking during his visit, Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

“As we approach the fifth year of Putin’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage – civilians and military alike.

We are surging investment into our preparations following the Prime Minister’s announcement this week, ensuring that Britain’s Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the Multinational Force Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure UK.

As we look towards a potential peace deal, we continue to step up for Ukraine in the fight today – strengthening its air defences while backing British industry, jobs and innovation at home.”

During meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, Healey discussed further military planning for the MNFU. He was accompanied on the trip by the most senior UK general serving at the MNFU headquarters, which is already operational in Paris.

The Defence Secretary also confirmed that production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones will begin this month, bolstering Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian drone attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. Developed by Ukrainian engineers and refined by British industry, the Octopus system uses frontline battlefield data to intercept Shahed-style drones before they can strike homes, hospitals, or power stations.

The drones are designed to be low-cost, rapidly produced, and suitable for mass manufacture. The UK aims to produce thousands of Octopus interceptors per month for delivery to Ukraine. Each interceptor costs less than 10 per cent of the drone it is designed to destroy, providing what officials describe as a sustainable, scalable solution for air defence. The design is updated every six weeks to keep pace with evolving Russian tactics.

The Octopus program forms part of the UK’s broader commitment to invest £600 million in air defence for Ukraine this year, within a total military support package worth £4.5 billion. Under the UK–Ukraine 100-Year Partnership, live battlefield data is fed directly into UK production lines, enabling rapid upgrades and faster delivery to the front line, while also supporting high-skilled jobs and innovation across the UK defence sector.

By Vafa Guliyeva