UK, several NATO states announced new 'unprecedented' package of military aid for Kiev

• 01.19.2023, 23:52
•  Europe,  World

Defense Ministers of the UK, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia have negotiated a new "unprecedented free aid package" of weapons for Ukraine. According to the statement, published by the UK Government after the meeting in Estonia, the package will include "main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense, ammunition, and infantry fighting vehicles, TASS reports. 

The statement includes never before published information about what the new aid package will include in addition to 14 Challenger 2 tanks and 30 AS90 howitzers. The heavy vehicles will be accompanied by evacuation vehicles, vehicles of minefield clearing and construction of pontoon bridges, as well as dozens of drones for artillery target designation. The document also mentions "hundreds […] armored and protected vehicles," 100,000 artillery shells, hundreds of missiles, including GMLRS and Starstreak guided missiles, medium-range air defense missiles, as well as 600 Brimstone anti-tank missiles. In addition, Kiev will receive spare parts, which, according to calculations of the British military, will make it possible to restore up to 100 Ukrainian armored vehicles, including tanks.

In addition, the UK and its nine partners plan to train 20,000 Ukrainian servicemen in 2023.

According to the statement, "the new Polish package consists of S-60 anti-aircraft guns with 70,000 pieces of ammunition." Warsaw also stated its readiness to "donate a company of Leopard 2 tanks with 1,000 pieces of ammunition."

Denmark will continue to train Ukrainian armed forces. "Weapons donations and military support will continue in close cooperation with allies, and in accordance with Ukrainian needs," the statement reads.