The key facts

  • The United Kingdom announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth about 10 billion pounds sterling (roughly 12 billion euros)
  • 500 million pounds will be allocated to urgently address shortfalls in the air defense system
  • The Netherlands will provide 500 million euros in military aid for the winter and 1.2 billion euros in non-military support for 2027–2029

New UK aid package

British Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey announced a new aid package for Ukraine in a statement to the House of Commons; its total value is estimated at around 12 billion euros, equivalent to 10 billion pounds sterling. This is reported by Kun.uz citing DW. According to a British government spokesperson cited by Reuters, 500 million pounds of the package will go toward urgently addressing shortfalls in Ukraine's air defense system. Before his address to parliament, Healey, together with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Kyiv's reaction

Zelensky called the British aid «a truly powerful and timely step». In his words, Moscow must see that Ukraine will not be left alone with its problems. «Every step to strengthen Ukraine brings Russia closer to understanding the need to end this war», Kun.uz quotes the president as saying. He also said that sanctions policy was discussed at the meeting with Burnham, and that the United Kingdom will maintain a firm position on this issue.

The Netherlands: military and non-military support

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced on 28 October, after meeting with Zelensky in The Hague, that the Netherlands would provide Ukraine with 500 million euros in military aid for the winter season. According to Reuters, these funds will go toward the supply of drones and other means needed to strengthen defense. In addition, the Dutch government will provide 1.2 billion euros in non-military aid over the next three years: 380 million euros is planned for reconstruction in 2027, and 410 million euros each in 2028 and 2029. Part of the funds will go to funds supporting investments by Dutch companies in Ukraine's reconstruction; urgent repairs of energy infrastructure and the purchase of industrial machinery are also planned.

Joint air defense project

According to Zelensky, meetings were also held in The Hague with companies from the two countries in the fields of defense, energy and software. Following these meetings, the parties were tasked with developing a special air defense project called «Bliksem». Thus, the decisions announced on 28–29 October cover not only financing: part of the agreements concerns specific joint projects, although the timeline and details of implementing «Bliksem» are not disclosed in the publications.