UK to grant $280 million in military aid to Kyiv, eyes training Ukraine soldiers

British Defence Secretary John Healey has announced a new defence equipment package worth 225 million pounds ($283 million) for Ukraine.

Announcing the support package, he said: “Nearly three years after Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion, the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit,” Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“But they cannot go it alone - which is why the UK will step up our international leadership on Ukraine throughout 2025.”

He also supported the idea of sending the country's military personnel to Ukraine as part of a training mission.

Healey said Britain needs to “make the training a better fit for what the Ukrainians need” during a visit to Kyiv.

“We [need to] make it easier for the Ukrainians to access and we [need to] work with the Ukrainians to help them motivate and mobilise more recruits.”

When asked if this meant extending training of Ukrainian recruits inside the UK to Ukraine itself, he said: “We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting.”

The additional defence package from London for Ukraine includes equipment to strengthen the navy, such as small boats, reconnaissance drones, uncrewed surface ships, ammunition, and mine countermeasure drones, valued at £92 million (approximately $116 million). It also covers air defence systems, including radars, ground equipment, and electronic drone warfare systems, amounting to £68 million (around $85.6 million).

Furthermore, the package allocates £26 million (nearly $33 million) for support and spare parts for previously supplied systems, £39 million (about $49 million) for over 1,000 electronic warfare systems to counter drones, and another £39 million (roughly $49 million) for joint procurement of respirators and equipment to enhance the protective capabilities of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

To note, as the war enters its fourth year, Ukraine continues to face significant challenges. Despite early successes in repelling Russian advances, Ukrainian troops are now facing fatigue and losses, particularly as Russia has deployed North Korean troops to the frontlines.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks in Brussels on December 18 with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other European leaders to discuss the future of Ukraine’s war efforts, particularly in light of the looming possibility of Donald Trump’s return to power in the United States. Western allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine, despite the ongoing challenges on the ground.

By Khagan Isayev