London announces £245 million to help Ukraine increase its ammunition stocks
The United Kingdom announced on Saturday February 24 an envelope of £245 million (287 million euros) to help Ukraine replenish its ammunition stocks two years after the start of the Russian invasion.
The aim of this aid is to “strengthen supply chains to produce the artillery ammunition that Ukraine urgently needs to increase its reserves,” according to a press release from the British Ministry of Defense.
The Ukrainian military “repelled the Russian invader and recaptured half of the territory that Putin had stolen, while inflicting significant damage to Russian capabilities: about 30% of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea was destroyed or damaged and thousands of tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed Vehicles have been reduced to destruction,” explained British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. “Together we will ensure that Putin fails, for a victory for democracy, the rules-based international order and the Ukrainian people,” he added.
Weakened by the blockage of American aid, the failure of its summer counteroffensive and a growing shortage of men and ammunition, the Ukrainian army says it faces an “extremely difficult” situation. President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to cede the fortress city of Avdiivka a week ago.
The United Kingdom, one of Kiev's main backers, recently announced an increase in military aid to Ukraine, which will amount to 2.5 billion pounds sterling (2.9 billion euros) for the year 2024/2025.
In addition to the thousands of drones already promised, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps reported to Parliament on Thursday about the impending delivery of 200 additional Brimstone anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian army, ensuring that this type of weapon “has had an important impact on the battlefield.”