UK Defence Chief calls to step up ‘50-day drive’ to arm Ukraine

The Telegraph reported the information.

On Monday, John Healey will back increased Western military support for Ukraine at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, endorsing Trump’s plan to impose “very severe” tariffs on Russia if it rejects a ceasefire by early September. He will pledge the UK will “play the full part in its success to bolster Ukraine’s immediate fight.”

“As members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a ‘50-day drive’ to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table,” the Defence Secretary stated.

Healey’s comments come as the Ministry of Defence confirmed the UK has sent £150 million worth of air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months, part of a £700 million commitment this year. This funding also supports providing more drones, which have become key weapons in the war with Russia.

The UK has delivered 50,000 drones to Ukraine in the last six months, with another 20,000 coming from a coalition led by Britain and Latvia. Monday’s UDCG is expected to see more commitments, including Germany and the UK agreeing to buy additional air defence missiles with €170 million from Berlin.

• On July 10, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a long-term defense agreement lasting 19 years, under which London will supply Kyiv with over 5,000 air defense missiles produced by Thales, a British defense company.