Britain to increase military support for Ukraine to £2.5bn, Rishi announces as he vows ‘we will not falter’ in Kyiv trip

BRITAIN will increase its military support for Ukraine to £2.5billion as Rishi Sunak vows "we will not falter".

The Prime Minister is set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky in a surprise visit to Kyiv, Downing Street said.

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It is there that he will reveal the package of military aid, which is said to be worth £2.5b.

It comes after UK and US launched joint airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen overnight after militants attacked ships in the Red Sea.

Mr Sunak, who last visited Ukraine in November 2022, said: "I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter.

"We will stand with Ukraine in their darkest hours and in better times to come."

He added: "The UK is already one of Ukraine's closest partners, because we recognise their security is our security.

"Today we are going further, increasing our military aid, delivering thousands of cutting-edge drones and signing a historic new security agreement to provide Ukraine with the assurances it needs for the long term.

"For two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion. They are still fighting, unfaltering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy."

Of the £.25 billion, at least £200 million is earmarked to roll out a fleet of military drones, including the high-tech surveillance kind, long-range strikers, and naval drones.

The new cutting-edge tech will arm Ukraine with top-notch, combat-proven tools to protect its people and hit back hard at Russian forces, both on land and at sea.

During his visit, Mr Sunak is also expected to meet with emergency responders dealing with the consequences of Russian airstrikes and announce an additional £18 million in humanitarian aid.

This is in addition to the nearly £340 million already provided.
The UK will also support English language education in Ukraine, reflecting the deepening ties between the two countries.

Last night Sunak and US President Joe Biden both confirmed the military offensive hit more than a dozen sites used by the Iranian-backed rebels just before midnight on Thursday.

Western forces smashed military targets shortly after Mr Sunak gave the go-ahead at an Emergency Cabinet meeting.

It's the first time strikes have been launched against Houthis since they started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea in mid-November last year.

Blasts hit Yemen's capital Sanaa, as well as Hodieda, the Houthi Red Sea port stronghold, Saada, and Dhamar, according to a Houthi official.

The US and UK said attacks were intended to disrupt and degrade the militants' threat to global trade following weeks of drone and missile attacks on cargo ships in the region.

Warship-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets were used during the strikes, the US said.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Defence said four RAF Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker used Paveway IV guided bombs to conduct precision strikes on two Houthi facilities.