In the coming weeks, the United Kingdom is expected to announce its commitment to support Ukraine's security at sea with a 10-year program aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
Anonymous sources told The Telegraph that the Memorandum of Understanding will help Ukraine to counter the russian threat from the sea by "providing military support focused on naval assets, as well as financial aid and intelligence sharing."
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The long-term support entails guarantees that if russia were to attack Ukraine again in the future, the UK would swiftly reimpose all sanctions and dispatch supplies to Ukrainian forces. This commitment aligns with the individual pledges made by G7 countries as part of the framework agreement for long-term support to Ukraine's defense capability, adopted during the NATO summit in Vilnius in early 2023.
While specifics about the types of weapons to be provided were not disclosed, it was mentioned that they cover ground and aerial components of warfare, aiming to make the Ukrainian Armed Forces "interoperable" with NATO. The INTERFLEX program for training Ukrainian military personnel in the UK will also continue.
The Telegraph notes that the British program, along with G7 commitments, serves as a substitute for Ukraine's admission to NATO.
A source close to the negotiations over Ukraine aid in Brussels last week stated that the EU promised to deliver arms worth a total of 20 billion euros to Ukraine over the next four years.
One of the efforts is to "enhance cooperation between the European and Ukrainian defense industries", allowing Ukraine to produce more weapons according to NATO standards. Additionally, the agreement addresses continued intelligence sharing and funding for demining after the war concludes.
On a note from Defense Express, the UK has been providing direct support to Ukraine in the naval domain since a while ago. For instance, back in August 2021, two decommissioned and restored Sandown-class minehunting trawlers were announced for transfer to Ukraine, refurbished in 2022 and now serving in the Ukrainian Navy under the new names "Cherkasy" and "Chernihiv."
However, we should not forget these ships are part of an older contract between Great Britain and Ukraine, announced in June 2021. Apart from these minesweepers, Ukraine intended to order six missile corvettes on credit terms.
Also, the Ukrainian Navy received three Sea King search and rescue helicopters in 2022, withdrawn from the British Royal Navy in 2016.
Therefore, it would be logical to assume that the volume of weapons to be transferred to Ukraine within this 10-year program would be significantly more substantial.
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