Britain will send hundreds of additional short-range missiles to Ukraine, it was announced ahead of a summit at which Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought authorisation to strike deep into Russia’s interior with Western-supplied weapons.
The Ukrainian president made another passionate appeal for further military assistance during the opening phase of the summit at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday.
He said the eastern region of Donetsk, where Kiev’s forces are facing Russian attacks, was particularly dependent on rapid supplies of aid.
The summit will also be attended by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who will confirm a £162 million package that includes the supply of 650 lightweight multi-purpose missiles (LMMs).
He said the new package would provide a “significant boost” to Ukraine’s air security and show that the government is “stepping up” its support.
But Professor Michael Clarke, former director general of the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that these supplies would likely run out “within a matter of months”.
He said Ukraine “needs more of everything right now,” given the intensity of Russian advances and bombing.
According to manufacturer Thales, the lightweight and precision-guided LMMs have low collateral damage and a range of over 6 km (3.7 miles). Hundreds of LMMs have already been delivered to Ukraine.
In July, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer committed to sending £3 billion a year to Ukraine for as long as it was needed.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the UK has committed a total of £12.7 billion, including £7.6 billion in military support.
The United States, Kiev’s biggest military backer, said it would provide additional military aid worth $250 million (£189.9m).
Mr. Zelensky arrived in Ramstein on Friday morning, just a few days ago. At least 51 people killed in Russian missile attack on central Ukrainian city of Poltava,
Appealing to international allies, he said: “It is vital that every aid package that is announced is implemented immediately on the battlefield without any delay.”
“The fighting in the Donetsk region depends on – if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has no achievements here, he will not have any achievements anywhere.”
Mr Zelensky also called on Western allies to authorise the use of long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia, saying this was the only way to end the war.
He made a direct appeal, saying: “Now we hear that there has been no change in your long-range policy. We think it is wrong to take such steps. We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine but also on Russian territory.”
Britain previously said Ukraine has a “clear right” to use weapons provided by the UK for “self-defence” that “does not impede operations inside Russia” following Kiev’s surprise cross-border incursion last month.
However, this does not include the use of long-range Storm Shadow missiles in territory outside Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders.
The United States provided Ukraine with long-range missiles earlier this year, but like those of Kiev’s other Western allies these are not authorised for use on targets inside Russia.
