GUNBOATS, lethal missiles and armoured vehicles will be sent to repel Vladimir Putin under Britain’s largest-ever tranche of military aid for Ukraine.
Rishi Sunak will announce the package today along with an extra £500million for President Zelensky’s war effort.
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The PM is travelling to Poland and then Germany for urgent security talks where he will warn Russia will invade NATO if it is not stopped.
In Poland, Mr Sunak plans to discuss the Ukraine war with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
After visiting British troops serving in the country, he will meet with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw.
Ahead of his two-day trip, the PM said last night: “Defending Ukraine against Russia’s brutal ambitions is vital for our security and for all of Europe.
“If Putin is allowed to succeed in this war of aggression, he will not stop at the Polish border.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this morning, to assure him of the UK’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s brutal and expansionist ambitions.
“He confirmed that the UK would provide an additional £500 million in immediate funding to support the highest priority capabilities, including further ammunition, air defence and drones – taking our support this year to £3 billion.
“The Ministry of Defence would also make our largest-ever single commitment of military equipment to help Ukraine fight back across land, sea and air – including 60 boats, more than 400 vehicles and over 1,600 missiles.
“President Zelenskyy thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s continued support, saying the new military assistance would make a material difference to ordinary Ukrainians fighting on the frontline to defend their country.
“Ahead of a visit to Poland and Germany, the Prime Minister reiterated that Ukraine’s security was central to all of Europe’s security. He said the UK would continue to work to galvanise the international community to support Ukraine’s defence.”
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The Ministry of Defence package to bolster their firepower includes 60 boats like raiding craft kitted with guns.
More than 1,600 strike and air defence missiles will also be sent, as well as Storm Shadow long-range guided missiles.
An additional 400 vehicles including “Husky” cars are being deployed to the frontline along with nearly four million more bullets.
A separate £500million cash boost takes the UK’s support for Kyiv to £3billion this financial year.
Mr Sunak is under pressure to dramatically ratchet up Britain’s defence budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP.
The Sun revealed recently that he is weighing up a one-off uplift to mark NATO’s 75th birthday this summer.
It was quickly dismissed by former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as a “shallow gimmick.”
Mr Sunak said last night: “Ukraine’s armed forces continue to fight bravely, but they need our support – and they need it now.
“Today’s package will help ensure Ukraine has what they need to take the fight to Russia.
“The United Kingdom will always play its part at the forefront of European security, defending our national interest and standing by our NATO allies.”
It comes after Poland said they are ready to host nuclear weapons on their borders as Russia and NATO are heading for a nuke showdown.
Iron curtain
President Andrzej Duda said his country will take up nuclear arms if they are asked to by NATO as they look for somewhere to deploy weapons and respond to Putin’s latest chilling threats.
The despot and his Kremlin cronies have been stocking up on their worrying warfare as they started to reinforce their armoury in Belarus and Kaliningrad.
Duda said on Monday: “Russia is increasingly militarising Kaliningrad. Recently it has been relocating its nuclear weapons to Belarus.
“If our allies decide to deploy nuclear arms on our territory as part of nuclear sharing, to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, we are ready to do so.
“I’ve already talked about it several times. I must admit that when asked about it, I declared our readiness.”
Poland sits in a crucial position as the NATO nation shares a border with Belarus and the Russian military playground of Kaliningrad.
Ukraine has always been reassured they have Poland’s full support if ever needed due to their position.
Duda also revealed in the chat nuclear talks between Poland and the US have been ongoing for some time.
He told the newspaper Fakt that they would work with the US to navigate nuclear weapons if need be and keep Russia from causing anymore chaos in Europe.
Moscow responded by warning the West that if Poland obtained any weapons, it would take the necessary actions to “ensure its security”.
Belarus has always been a Kremlin friend, cheerfully allowing Putin to store his weapons closer to Europe’s powerhouses.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been happy to home nukes in his country as the US “has been doing this for decades”, said Putin last year.
He said: “There is nothing unusual here either: firstly, the United States has been doing this for decades. They have long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries.”
“We agreed that we will do the same – without violating our obligations, I emphasise, without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.”
Russia has stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, it has been said.
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