Britain unveils 'firepower' package for Ukraine amid uncertainty over future of war

The package, valued at some $186 million, includes thousands of drones, dozens of tanks and armored vehicles and air defense systems, lifting Britain's commitment this year to Ukraine to $5.6 billion.

"While Russia is weakened, it remains undeniable dangerous," Defense Secretary John Healey of Britain said in a statement. "We must step up further -- and secure peace through strength -- together."

The package was announced as more than 50 allies and partners converged on Brussels for the 26th Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of nations that support Ukraine's defense against the Russia invasion.

The meeting is being held at a time of uncertainty as Trump, the leader of the United States, which has been by far the largest backer of Ukraine, campaigned on isolationist agenda and has openly questioned sending support to Kyiv while being known for praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in his opening remarks at the meeting, told military and diplomatic leaders that he did not believe that Ukraine gaining NATO membership would be a "realistic" outcome of a negotiated peace settlement with Russia.

Ukraine began the NATO ascension process in at least 2008. NATO is a voluntary military defense pact, meaning Kyiv has sought membership, and has increasingly done so since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Hegseth on Wednesday was seemingly dismissing that idea, suggesting that any alternative security guarantees for Ukraine "must be backed by capable European and non-European troops."

He also said it would be an "unrealistic objective" to return Ukraine to is pre-2014 borders.

Following Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, Russia occupies about 20% of Ukrainian land.

Trump on Wednesday also spoke with President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of peace talks, stating they should begin "immediately."

Russia' foreign ministry confirmed the call, stating the two leaders discussed a "possible Ukraine settlement" with Putin telling Trump that "it was necessary to eliminate the root causes of the conflict."

Putin claimed the reason for his inaction was to "denazify" and demilitarize Ukraine. He has also lashed out at Ukraine's voluntary effort to joint NATO.

UK committed to Ukraine's 'irreversible path to NATO': PM
London (AFP) Feb 14, 2025 - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call Friday that the UK was committed "to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to NATO".

"The prime minister reiterated the UK's commitment to Ukraine being on an irreversible path to NATO, as agreed by allies at the Washington summit last year," a spokeswoman in Starmer's Downing Street office said.

It comes after US President Donald Trump's administration this week poured cold water on Ukraine's goal of eventually joining the Western military alliance.

The call also follows Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin holding watershed talks Wednesday about Moscow's full-scale invasion, with the US leader announcing they had agreed to soon start Ukraine talks.

The developments have spooked Kyiv and its European allies, which fear a deal could be made over their heads, just as Zelensky and Western allies gathered Friday for the Munich Security Conference.

Starmer began his conversation with the Ukrainian leader by "reiterating the UK's concrete support for Ukraine, for as long as it's needed", according to the Downing Street spokeswoman's readout.

"He was unequivocal that there could be no talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine," she said.

"Ukraine needed strong security guarantees, further lethal aid and a sovereign future, and it could count on the UK to step up."

With the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion looming, "the leaders agreed that it would be an important moment to demonstrate international unity and support for Ukraine," the spokeswoman added.