Defence secretary to call for ‘50-day drive’ to arm Kyiv and force Putin’s hand
Rallying cry issued to ‘force Putin to the negotiating table’
- UK Defence Secretary John Healey will urge Western allies to launch a '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.
- This push aims to boost military support and compel Vladimir Putin to negotiate, aligning with US president Donald Trump's 2 September ceasefire deadline.
- Trump has threatened 'very severe' tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire is not agreed by the specified date.
- The UK has already provided £150 million in air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months, part of a £700 million commitment for this year.
- Further aid is anticipated, with Germany and the UK agreeing to procure more air defence missiles, and the UK having delivered 50,000 drones to Ukraine.