The United Kingdom will give Ukraine thousands of drones and contribute more than $3 billion to defend itself against Russia.

British Prime Minister, Rishi SunakDuring a visit to Kiev this Friday, he pledged increased military aid to Ukraine and the delivery of thousands of drones.

“We are one of the main supporters of Ukraine, especially when it comes to military aid,” Sunak announced from the capital of Ukraine.

British military aid to rise to £2.5 billion for 2024/2025 ($3.19 billion).

The contribution, which is 200 million pounds ($255 million) more than the previous two years of aid, will be earmarked for long-range missiles, air defense, artillery ammunition and maritime security.

A portion of at least 200 million pounds An initiative to rapidly supply and manufacture thousands of military drones, including “surveillance, long-range attack and maritime drones”. According to Downing Street.

The British government said this would be “the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine by any country.” Most of these devices will be manufactured in the United Kingdom.

The support is consistent with the “seriousness of the situation here” and “our determination” to support Ukraine, Sunak declared.

In total, London will supply around 12 billion pounds so far ($17.8 billion) In aid of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, welcomed the signing of an “unprecedented security agreement” this Friday, after signing a document with Sunak by which London promises to quickly help Ukraine if it is attacked again by Russia. After this war is over.

“We attended today A milestone in European history. “Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed a new unprecedented security agreement,” Zelensky wrote on his X social network account.

The Ukrainian head of state said without elaborating on the agreement, adding that it was not a “simple declaration”.

“If the UK and other countries had offered this level of guarantees in 1991 (after Ukraine declared independence from the USSR), there would have been no Russian aggression,” Zelensky wrote.

The kyiv leader added that Ukraine and the United Kingdom have a “common objective”. “Ensure that Ukraine is not attacked again after the current Russian aggression ceases.”

In a statement issued hours ago, the British government explained that, through the signed agreement, the United Kingdom “commits to maintaining consultations with and providing prompt and continuous assistance for the defense of Ukraine should it be attacked again by Russia.”

The United Kingdom thus became the first G7 country to offer the “security guarantee” that the world’s club of seven most industrialized democracies committed to Ukraine last year.

With information from EFE and AFP