£200m allocated for UK armed forces deployment to Ukraine, government says | Politics News

The government has allocated £200m of funding to prepare the UK’s armed forces to be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.

The money, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey during a visit to Ukraine on Friday, will deliver new vehicles, communications and counter-drone protection to ensure troops are ready if required.

The government said this will equip UK forces to secure Ukraine’s future and reinforce long-term security guarantees, as part of a Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU).

It follows the declaration of intent signed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris this week, which confirmed UK and French troops will deploy to Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement.

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Mr Healey said: “As we approach the fifth year of Putin’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage – civilians and military alike.

“We are surging investment into our preparations following the prime minister’s announcement this week, ensuring that Britain’s armed forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the Multinational Force Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure UK.

“As we look towards a potential peace deal, we continue to step up for Ukraine in the fight today – strengthening its air defences while backing British industry, jobs and innovation at home.”

The money is being funded from the government’s core defence budget. Sir Keir said this week that MPs will get a vote before troops are sent to Ukraine.

The idea for a joint peacekeeping force was first floated last year, after Sir Keir and Mr Macron formed a coalition of the willing.

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Mr Healey discussed further details of the military plans for the MNFU with Mr Zelenskyy during the visit to the war-hit country on Friday.

During those meetings, Mr Healey also confirmed that production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones will begin this month, which the government said would boost Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian drone attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Russia fired a hypersonic missile overnight at a target in Ukraine near the border with NATO-member Poland.

The Oreshnik hit Ukraine’s western Lviv region, although officials there did not mention any casualties.

Kyiv’s European allies said the attack was an attempt to intimidate them from supporting President Zelenskyy.

It was only the ​second time that Russia has fired the Oreshnik at Ukraine.