Latest news with #UkraineArmedForces
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
UK pledges 100,000 new drones for Kiev
The UK has pledged to supply 100,000 new drones to Ukraine by April 2026, in addition to the 10,000 UAVs it sent last year. The announcement coincides with Britain's newly unveiled Strategic Defense Review, which proposes steps to rearm its military in light of what it paints as a threat posed by Russia. London has allocated £350 million ($470 million) from its £4.5 billion Ukraine military package to fund new drone deliveries to Kiev, according to a government statement on Wednesday. UK Defense Secretary John Healey is expected to detail the initiative at the upcoming Ukraine contact group meeting in Brussels. 'Ukraine's Armed Forces have demonstrated the effectiveness of drone warfare,' London stated, admitting that Kiev's demand for UAVs has provided a boost to the UK's economy. It also unveiled plans to use Ukraine's drone experience to train its own military. In order to 'learn the lessons from Ukraine,' the UK would allocate over £4 billion for autonomous systems and drones for its armed forces. Ukraine has carried out drone attacks, including against civilian sites in Russia, since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022. The attacks have intensified since the renewal of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev in Istanbul. Russia has claimed that Kiev's Western backers, particularly the UK, France, and Germany, are pushing drone warfare in order to derail the talks and to serve their own political agendas. London framed its new Strategic Defense Review as 'a message to Moscow,' declaring Britain is 'ready to fight, if required.' The UK intends to spend £1.5 billion on new weapons plants, £6 billion on long-range arms, and £15 billion on nuclear warheads, among multiple other new expenses. Russia has repeatedly dismissed claims it plans to attack Western Europe as 'nonsense,' accusing the West of using scare tactics to justify shifting public funds toward military spending. Moscow has warned that foreign involvement, including arms deliveries, would obstruct peace efforts and ultimately fail to stop Russia from reaching its military goals. Moscow has also criticized the UK's and EU's respective militarization drives, warning they risk triggering a broader conflict in Europe.
Russia Today
22-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Ukraine wants fixed percentage of EU's GDP
Ukraine has proposed that EU member states allocate a fixed portion of their GDP to fund the country's armed forces. The bloc's leaders have pledged continued military support for Kiev despite a policy change by US President Donald Trump, who aims to mediate a truce. Finance Minister Sergey Marchenko outlined the proposal during this week's G7 finance ministers meeting in Canada, according to a Facebook post published on Thursday. 'What we are proposing is partner participation in funding Ukraine's Armed Forces, which would effectively integrate them into Europe's defense structure,' he wrote. Marchenko added that the cost 'would represent only a small share of the EU's GDP' and could be distributed among countries willing to join the initiative. Kiev wants to launch the new scheme in 2026, with contributions counted toward NATO defense spending targets. Marchenko's appeal comes as Ukraine struggles with rising fiscal pressure and an uncertain outlook on foreign assistance. On Tuesday, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the country's 2025 budget includes a shortfall of 400–500 billion hryvnias ($9.6–12 billion) for financing its armed forces. Fellow lawmaker Nina Yuzhanina warned that military support was at a critical level and called for sweeping domestic budget cuts to redirect resources. Ukraine's mounting debt has also raised alarm. Total state debt is approaching $171 billion, with public debt nearing 100% of GDP. Earlier this month, Marchenko said the country would be unable to repay foreign creditors for the next 30 years but intends to continue borrowing. Since the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Ukraine has received billions in military, financial, and humanitarian aid and loans from the US, the EU, and other donors. Brussels' approach has drawn criticism from some EU member states, including Hungary and Slovakia. The US, Ukraine's largest donor, has moved to recoup its financial aid to Ukraine by signing a natural resources deal with Kiev. The agreement, pushed by Trump, grants the US preferential access to Ukrainian mineral resources without providing security guarantees. Trump, who has repeatedly called for a swift resolution to the conflict, has pledged to mediate a truce rather than expand military support. Ukrainian lawmakers have warned that the military aid package approved under former President Joe Biden will run out by summer, and no talks on further US deliveries are currently underway. Russia has consistently condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, declaring that they will only prolong the conflict without changing its outcome, while also being an additional economic burden for ordinary taxpayers.
The Herald Scotland
03-05-2025
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
Second World War sacrifices remembered ahead of VE Day 80th anniversary
Thousands of people are expected to line the streets of central London on Bank Holiday Monday to hear the performance of Churchill's speech, as well as taking in a military procession and a flypast. The events will start the build-up to Thursday May 8, which marks exactly 80 years since VE Day was declared. Alan Kennett (right) will formally begin the procession on Monday (Gareth Fuller/PA) Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the 80th anniversary as 'a moment of national unity'. Writing in the Daily Mirror, he said: 'It will be a moment to remember. A chance to applaud the lion-hearted generation that defeated Nazi evil. 'But also an opportunity to honour those who follow in their footsteps and serve in our forces today. 'Because, just like the VE Day heroes, they sacrifice so much to keep our country safe.' In 1945, Sir Winston told Britons: 'This is not victory of a party or of any class. 'It's a victory of the great British nation as a whole.' The Met Office forecasts that temperatures will reach a maximum of 15C or 16C on England's south coast on Monday, but said northern parts of the UK would 'struggle to get into the double figures'. There may be some rain on Monday in central London, forecasters said. Members of the Ukraine Armed Forces will take part in the procession (Lucy North/PA) Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, has the honour of starting the procession involving more than 1,300 members of the Armed Forces and youth groups. They are set to march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags. The procession begins after Mr Kennett receives the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. The King, Queen, Sir Keir and Second World War veterans will be on a platform on the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Members of the Royal Family are later expected to make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast. The Queen Mother wipes her eye as she stands on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the 50th anniversary of VE Day with the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret (PA) Large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace in 1945 to catch a glimpse of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The young Princess Elizabeth sneaked out into the streets to join the celebrating crowds and later spoke of being swept up in a 'tide of happiness and relief'. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, this year will be the first landmark VE Day commemoration without any of the royals who stood on the balcony that day. Street parties will be held in towns and cities across the UK as part of the special events – including community tea parties, 1940s dress-up events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships. Local authorities throughout the country have offered support for communities and organisations wishing to hold a VE Day street party, with some councils like Portsmouth waiving fees to close roads for the celebrations. The Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall are among hundred of buildings across the country which will be lit up from 9pm on Tuesday to mark the big day. A display of 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London will help mark the anniversary (Stefan Rousseau/PA) A new display of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London is also set to form another touching tribute. The poppies have been set to resemble a wound to reflect the long-lasting sacrifices made during the war. A service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance on Thursday, where veterans will be part of the congregation. Horse Guards Parade will then hold a live celebratory concert to round off the commemorations. Pubs and bars have also been granted permission to stay open for longer to mark the anniversary. Venues in England and Wales which usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours to celebrate. Churches and cathedrals across the country will ring their bells as a collective act of thanksgiving at 6.30pm, echoing the sounds that swept across the country in 1945, the Church of England said.
