Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

PM Rishi Sunak reaffirms UK defensive support to Ukraine for new year

The British Indian leader's call came as the UK announced that it will supply “hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition� next year, under a GBP 250-million contract.

PM Rishi Sunak reaffirms UK defensive support to Ukraine for new year

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used a European summit in the Latvian capital of Riga to reaffirm the UK’s support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia and announced a fresh defensive aid package for the new year as part of a GBP 250-million contract.

Addressing the meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which brings together 10 like-minded nations to prevent conflict in the Nordic and Baltic region, Sunak called on the regional leaders to sustain or exceed 2022 levels of support for Ukraine in 2023 through ongoing military aid, economic resilience and political backing. The JEF meeting, which brought together the UK, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, was also addressed by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenksyy.


“From the Arctic Circle to the Isle of Wight, the UK and our European allies have been in lockstep in our response to the invasion of Ukraine, and we remain steadfast in our ambition for peace in Europe once again,” said Sunak.

“But to achieve peace, we must deter aggression and our deployments across the region together are vital in ensuring we are able to respond to the gravest of threats. I know this Joint Expeditionary Force summit will only underline our close friendships and unwavering support for Ukraine,” he said.

The British Indian leader’s call came as the UK announced that it will supply “hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition” next year, under a GBP 250-million contract that will ensure a constant flow of critical artillery ammunition to Ukraine throughout 2023.

The UK claims to be Europe’s leading provider of defensive aid to Ukraine, including sending Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and recently, 125 anti-aircraft guns. It has also provided more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition since February, with the deliveries being directly linked to successful operations to retake territory in Ukraine.

“For our part in the United Kingdom, we have pledged to match or exceed the GBP 2.3bn in aid that we provided this year, next year, and I would very much hope and encourage others around the table to do whatever they can to continue the strong support,” added Sunak.

At the summit, the leaders are said to have discussed the defensive capabilities needed by Ukrainian forces, including further air defence. Also on the agenda were plans to accelerate cooperation among JEF nations, bolster intelligence sharing, strengthen defences to hybrid threats and protect critical national infrastructure.

As part of that increased collaboration, the allies also discussed support to Finland and Sweden ahead of their accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and scaling up joint exercises to further strengthen the JEF alliance.

Following the JEF summit, Sunak is scheduled to meet the newly-reappointed Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš for a bilateral, underscoring the close partnership between the two countries, before travelling on to Estonia, where he will meet UK and NATO troops serving on NATO’s eastern flank.

In Estonia, Sunak is scheduled to sign a new tech partnership with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. Downing Street said the joint partnership is set to harness the shared expertise between the two countries, helping both the UK and Estonia bolster technology ties and support new digital infrastructure.

(PTI)

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less