UK unveils major new aid package for Ukraine, sets up 70-person multinational HQ

Read also: UK defense minister says he wants to be the one who deploys British troops to Ukraine

Headquarters for multinational forces already operating

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced increased support for Ukraine within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, created jointly with partners. The initiative concerns preparations for the possible deployment of international forces after peace is achieved in Ukraine.

As part of these multinational forces for Ukraine, a 70-person headquarters is already functioning, and the training of British troops is funded by the government at £200 million.

New aid package

The new package provides additional financial assistance in several areas:

• £20 million for restoring and protecting Ukraine’s energy system;

• £5.7 million in humanitarian aid for frontline communities;

• Medical mentorship, with British military surgeons and medics training Ukrainian specialists;

• Training for Ukrainian helicopter pilots at a UK air base.

An additional £30 million has also been allocated to support the resilience of Ukrainian society and to document potential war crimes.

The new package follows the assistance announced earlier this month, including:

• £500 million to support air defense;

• 1,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMM) to protect against Russian drone attacks.

What London said about supporting Ukraine

Starmer emphasized that support for Ukraine is directly linked to Europe’s security.

“On this grim anniversary, our message to the Ukrainian people is simple: Britain is with you, stronger than everю That is why we are announcing new support today, and we will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” he said.

Defense Secretary John Healey stated that London will continue to strengthen military aid to Kyiv together with its allies.

“This was a war Putin thought he would win in a week, but he underestimates the will of the Ukrainian people. With our support, they continue to fight with huge courage and defiance,” he noted.

Foreign troops in Ukraine

European countries have offered varying estimates of a possible peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine, ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 troops.

So far, partner governments have not disclosed specific military plans. However, according to preliminary estimates, the bulk of the potential contingent could be provided by the United Kingdom and France, which would be responsible for the land and air components.

At the same time, public support for such a mission varies across Europe: it is highest in the UK, while in France and Germany a significant portion of the population opposes sending troops even after the war ends.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine insists on deploying a European contingent closer to the front line in the event of a ceasefire.