UK, U.S., 25 others agree to send weapons to Ukrainian forces

More than two dozen nations, including the UK, other European countries, and the US, have agreed to send more weapons, medical supplies and other military aid to Ukraine as it fights a Russian invasion.

The UK has offered to conduct “logistics operations” to support the delivery of the donations, a defence source said.

British defence secretary, Ben Wallace, organised a donor conference of military aid on Friday evening, which was held virtually.

Some 25 nations were on the call and all said they would continue to contribute aid, some saying for the first time their support will include lethal assistance. NATO was also represented.

In addition, two other countries that could not make the conference said separately that they would donate support.

The defence source said: “The defence secretary held a virtual donor conference last night with more than 25 countries, including the US and Canada and some countries outside NATO, coordinating their support to Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Russia-Ukraine crisis: NATO activates Response Force

“They will continue to give humanitarian and military support, which includes ammunition and anti-tank weapons, and the UK has offered to conduct logistics operations to support the delivery of donations.”

The assistance includes lethal aid, like ammunition, anti-tank weapons and anti-air weapons, and non-lethal aid such as medical supplies.

The Netherlands has announced that it will supply 200 Stinger missiles – man-portable air defence systems – to Ukraine.

It is understood that the aid is able to reach the Ukrainian military even as they battle Russian forces on multiple fronts.

According to Sky News, the countries that had previously been against sending weapons to help the Ukrainian armed forces have now decided to do so following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade his neighbour.

The donating nations include countries that are not part of the NATO defence alliance.

TheStar