UK to send 650 missiles to Ukraine amid ongoing conflict

Defence Secretary John Healey is set to announce a significant commitment of £162 million to supply 650 short-range missiles to Ukraine during a summit in Germany. This decision comes as part of a broader effort to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict with Russia. The meeting will involve discussions among defense ministers, including a recent bilateral meeting between Healey and Ukraine's defense minister, Rustem Umerov, in London. The UK has previously provided hundreds of lightweight multirole missiles to support Ukraine's defense against Russian attacks. Healey emphasized that this new commitment is crucial for bolstering Ukraine's defenses, especially in light of recent tragic incidents in Poltava and Lviv due to Russian strikes. The UK-made missiles are expected to play a vital role in protecting Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. Thales, a strategic partner of the UK government, is involved in the production of these missiles, which are being delivered from their Belfast site. The collaboration between the UK Ministry of Defence and Thales has been ongoing since the conflict began, focusing on delivering essential air defense systems rapidly. The geopolitical implications of this support are significant, as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned of potential repercussions if the UK allows Ukraine to use British weapons to strike Russian territory. The ongoing conflict, which escalated in February 2022, has roots in the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the subsequent support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine.