Attendees pose for a group photo during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 11, 2025. Britain on Friday announced a 450 million British pounds (about 589 million U.S. dollars) "surge of military support" for Ukraine as it co-hosted a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany in Brussels. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
LONDON/BRUSSELS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Britain on Friday announced a 450 million British pounds (about 589 million U.S. dollars) "surge of military support" for Ukraine as it co-hosted a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany in Brussels.
The package, jointly funded by Britain and Norway, includes a new "close fight" military aid component valued at over 250 million pounds, featuring radar systems, anti-tank mines and military drones.
Friday's support package also includes repairs and maintenance for vehicles and battlefield equipment previously supplied by Britain to Ukraine.
British Defense Secretary John Healey said the package will "surge support to Ukraine's frontline fight" and increase pressure on Russia.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, the new kit will be procured from both British and Ukrainian suppliers, "demonstrating how investment into Ukraine's defence supports jobs and the economies" in both Britain and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has also ramped up its support. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed that member states have committed over 23 billion euros (about 26.21 billion dollars) in military aid to Ukraine so far this year.
"So we are definitely doing more than last year," said Kallas, stressing that the EU should do even more. ■
British Defense Secretary John Healey (R) and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov attend a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 11, 2025. Britain on Friday announced a 450 million British pounds (about 589 million U.S. dollars) "surge of military support" for Ukraine as it co-hosted a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany in Brussels. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (R) and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attend a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 11, 2025. Britain on Friday announced a 450 million British pounds (about 589 million U.S. dollars) "surge of military support" for Ukraine as it co-hosted a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany in Brussels. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
British Defense Secretary John Healey (R), Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (C) and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attend a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on April 11, 2025. Britain on Friday announced a 450 million British pounds (about 589 million U.S. dollars) "surge of military support" for Ukraine as it co-hosted a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany in Brussels. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
