Articles in this Cluster
11-04-2025
Ukraine's European allies have pledged €21bn in new military support, with Germany committing €11bn over four years and the UK announcing a £450m package as part of its £4.5bn aid pledge. The support, agreed at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at Nato's headquarters, includes air defences, missiles, and drones, and is seen as a strong signal to Moscow. The pledges come as Europe seeks to fill the gap left by changed US priorities under Donald Trump, despite US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth joining the meeting remotely to assure allies of continued US support.
11-04-2025
Prince Harry made a surprise visit to Ukraine to meet with wounded soldiers at a rehabilitation clinic in Lviv, where he toured the facility and met with patients and medical professionals. The clinic provides free prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, and psychological help to military personnel injured in the ongoing war with Russia. Harry, who founded the Invictus Games Foundation, was accompanied by the charity's representatives and also met with Ukraine's veteran affairs minister. The visit was not announced until after he had left the country.
11-04-2025
European defense ministers gathered in Brussels for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, stressing that peace is out of reach for Ukraine due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing aggression. The meeting, co-hosted by the UK and Germany, saw the absence of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who attended virtually. The group announced new pledges of military aid totaling over $23.8 billion, with Germany providing $12.5 billion in military support to Ukraine through 2029. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the need for air defense systems to strengthen the country's sky protection, while British Defense Secretary John Healey criticized Putin for rejecting a ceasefire and continuing to attack Ukraine. The US, meanwhile, is pursuing talks with Moscow, with Trump's foreign envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Putin in St. Petersburg to discuss Ukraine.
11-04-2025
The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, has announced £450m in funding for Ukraine's military support package, describing 2025 as "the critical year" for the war. The funding will be used for repairs, maintenance, and new equipment, including radar systems, anti-tank mines, and drones. The announcement was made at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, an alliance of around 50 countries supporting Ukraine. The group also agreed to provide a record €21bn in military support for Ukraine. The UK and France are leading a "coalition of the willing" to plan a multinational peacekeeping force in Ukraine, with discussions ongoing about operational plans and capabilities.
11-04-2025
China's Defence Minister Dong Jun will visit Vietnam next week for a military exchange and joint naval patrol, coinciding with President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country, as Beijing seeks to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian neighbours amid tensions in the South China Sea.