The United Kingdom has announced it will accelerate deliveries to Ukraine of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs), which have proven highly effective against Russian jet-powered drones, and is preparing additional packages of sanctions, military assistance and financial support. The announcement came ahead of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Downing Street.
The decision was taken against the backdrop of intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure using jet-powered drones (Geran/Shahed variants equipped with turbojet engines). These drones fly significantly faster and higher than conventional propeller-driven Shaheds, making them harder to detect and intercept.
According to the British government, of a new £45 million (approximately $60 million) package of surface-to-air missiles, deliveries worth £10 million (around $13 million) will be accelerated to meet Ukraine’s most urgent winter requirements. This forms part of an existing four-year contract worth £1.6 billion that provides for the supply of more than 5,000 LMM missiles. The missiles are produced by the British company Thales (including at its plant in Belfast) and are already in use by Ukrainian air defence forces.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the frontlines have the equipment they need to push back Russia. My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer: we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster.” He has also instructed ministers to prepare additional packages of sanctions, military aid and financial support in the coming weeks.
In parallel, London is urging partners to increase pressure on Russia, in particular by introducing or fully implementing a ban on maritime services (including insurance and shipping) for Russian LNG exports. Chancellor John Healey is raising the issue at IMF meetings in Bangkok. The UK also supports the idea of an energy ceasefire mentioned by US President Donald Trump and is calling on Moscow to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
