UK declares deal to ship superior assault drones to Ukraine to assist struggle Putin
The UK Government has signed a deal with an Anglo-American defence company to provide Ukraine’s armed forces with more advanced attack drones to tackle Russian aggression in the Black Sea, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
The agreement with Anduril will see cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m systems – designed to monitor an area before striking targets that enter it – being supplied to Kyiv to help tackle Russian aggression in the Black Sea.
The new contracts total nearly £30 million and are backed by the International Fund for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said.
Defence Secretary John Healey visited Anduril’s Washington facility on Wednesday before talks with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, with whom he is expected to discuss the decision.
He said: “We are determined to achieve a secure, lasting peace in Ukraine, which means putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position to prevent any return to Russian aggression.
“The UK has already provided more than 10,000 drones to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which have proved vital in disrupting Russian troop advances and targeting positions behind the frontline.
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“With a £2.26 billion loan from seized Russian assets, plus £1.6 billion worth of air defence missiles announced for Ukraine in the last week, the UK is continuing to show leadership in securing a lasting peace for Ukraine.”
The news comes after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked European nations for their support as he attended a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.
Mr Zelensky said there had been backing “during all this period and last week, you stayed with us” – a reference to his White House falling out with US President Donald Trump.
“We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words, we feel it,” he said.
“You made a strong signal to the Ukrainian people, to Ukrainian warriors, to civilians, to all our families.
“It’s great that we are not alone, we feel it, we know it.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would confer with allies about the prospect of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent in the face of threats from Russia at a summit of EU leaders.
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The UK and France “regularly co-operate on issues to help safeguard” Europe, Downing Street said when asked about Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that he would discuss with allies the prospect of using France’s nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats.
Asked what the Prime Minister’s response to the announcement was, a Number 10 spokesman said: “The UK already commits its nuclear forces to Nato, helping to safeguard European Euro-Atlantic security.
“And of course, we have a strong and important security relationship with France, and we regularly co-operate on issues to help safeguard European security.”
CIA director John Ratcliffe told Fox Business Network on Wednesday there has been a “pause” on “the intelligence front” following Donald Trump’s fractious Oval Office confrontation with Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
The decision could affect Ukraine’s ability to effectively use long-range western weapons, such as US-made Himars launchers and deprive Kyiv of advance information about potential incoming threats.
