/UKRAINE: UK Pledges Additional Military Support To Ukraine

The United Kingdom pledged to supply Ukraine with 120 armoured vehicles and anti-ship missile systems, following Prime Minister Boris Johnson's previously unannounced visit to Kyiv.

• Johnson's new offer comes in addition to over GBP100mn in military assistance promised last week, including 800 anti-tank missiles, more anti-aircraft missiles, drones and fresh batches of other equipment.
• The delivery of anti-ship missiles could be crucial in bolstering the defences of Odesa, Ukraine's third most populous city and by far its largest seaport. The Russian Navy has blockaded the Ukrainian coast and keeps several amphibious landing vessels near that key city.
• On top of new military aid, the UK will guarantee an additional $500mn in World Bank lending to Ukraine and has "responded to the request of the Ukrainian government by liberalising all tariffs on imports from Ukraine."
• Ukraine President Zelensky told the Associated Press that Western supplies of weapons and military equipment have "of course" not been enough to turn the tide of the war but deliveries are accelerating.
• Just in the recent days, Slovakia has donated S-300 anti-aircraft systems and confirmed talks on a potential sale of Zuzana howitzers to Ukraine, while Lithuania said it will soon resume trainings for Ukrainian servicemen on the use of Western military equipment.