UK announces $116M aid package for Ukraine

A new package of vital air defense capabilities for Ukraine was announced on June 13 at a meeting of defense ministers from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

The UK government said this in a press release, Ukrinform reports.

According to the report, the equipment, worth GBP 92 million (about $116 million), will be procured in the coming months through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU) to bolster Ukraine's ability to protect its critical national infrastructure, civilian population, and front-line personnel. The package will provide radars to help protect from indiscriminate Russian strikes as well as guns and "a significant amount of ammunition."

In addition, the UK is investing a further GBP 250 million in the IFU.

"The UK has contributed a further GBP 250 million to the International Fund for Ukraine and, with allies and partners, through the fund we are providing a package of air defense to help Ukraine protect their critical national infrastructure and defend against indiscriminate Russian air strikes," said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.

The IFU uses financial contributions from international partners to procure priority military assistance for Ukraine. This will ensure the continued supply of military support – lethal and non-lethal – to Ukraine through 2023 and beyond.

The JEF is a group of like-minded nations – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom. The nations share the same purpose, values and a common focus on security and stability in the JEF core regions of the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region.

The United States on Tuesday announced a new $325 million military aid package to Ukraine.