UK set to announce new package of ‘lethal’ arms to Ukraine

The UK government is set to announce a major new artillery package for Ukraine as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepares to meet with his Nordic, Baltic and Dutch counterparts in Latvia to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

According to a statement issued by the prime minister's office on Monday, during their meeting in Riga, Sunak will call on the leaders to maintain their support for Ukraine “through ongoing lethal aid” in the coming year.

The UK will supply “hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition next year under a £250 million ($304 million) contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout 2023,” the statement said.

The statement also confirmed that the UK has already delivered Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and 125 anti-aircraft guns, to be used against Russian forces in the battlefield.

“We have also provided more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition since February, with the deliveries directly linked to successful operations to retake territory in Ukraine,” it added.

In their Monday session, the leaders will also discuss support to Finland and Sweden ahead of their accession to NATO.

The meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which brings together the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, will also be addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

MG