RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT
To unravel the present scenario in Russia-Ukraine war, we need to look back at the beginning of the conflict.
Over the last three years, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has become a global figure meeting high-profile leaders and attending international meetings where he has sought support for his country’s war against Russia
In 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine fearing that it will join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). In June 2021, Ukraine and NATO forces had launched joint naval drills in the Black Sea. Russia condemned the drills, and it feared that Ukraine would install NATO missiles on its soil. It demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never join the NATO.
Ukraine, on the other hand, feared that Russia, which had annexed Russian- speaking Crimea and disputed Donbas, might occupy other parts of Ukraine.
Over the last three years, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has become a global figure meeting high-profile leaders and attending international meetings where he has sought support for his country’s war against Russia. He has been welcomed everywhere and nations have pledged billions of pounds.
Staggering amount
Global aid to Ukraine since 2022 has reached a staggering $430 billion committed as of December 2024, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Aid. One wonders where this amount of money goes and whether an average Ukrainian gets any benefits.
The US has given $119.7 billion while Europe has given $138.7 billion so far to Ukrainian war effort. The UK co-hosted the London Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2023, raising over $60 billion. It has committed 12.8 billion for Ukraine, out of which £7.8 billion is in military support.
According to its Ministry of Defence, Britain has provided Ukraine with following military support: it has sent around 400 different capabilities, with a new £150 million package including drones, tanks and air defence systems announced on February 12 this year. Thirty thousand new attack and surveillance drones will be delivered to Ukraine via the UK and Latvia-led drone coalition.
Ukraine has received a new rapidly-developed bespoke air defence system, called Gravehawk, jointly funded by the UK and Denmark. Two prototypes of the air defence capability system were tested in Ukraine in September, and a further 15 will follow this year. Operation Interflex has trained more than 51,000 Ukrainian recruits in the last two years. Ukrainian officer cadets will be trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, helping to develop Ukraine’s future military leaders.
UK military projects
British officer cadets will also be able to attend training colleges in Ukraine, learning first-hand from Ukrainian armed force about their fight on the battlefield. The UK has also supplied the Storm Shadow Missile, which has been developed by a Franco-British collaboration. Each missile costs $1 million.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Dozens of other British military and humanitarian projects are going on in support of Ukraine. On March 5, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called a, ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting of around 20 countries to defend Ukraine and put troops on the ground in Ukraine as a peacekeeping force. He claimed that we are, ‘at a crossroads in history’. Foreign Minister David Lammy had earlier said that Putin’s Russia is a threat to all Europe.
Starmer also pledged an additional £1.62 billion of UK Export Finance to buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles. Manufacturing of these missiles has already started. Britain has also taken in 219,400 Ukrainians refugees as of September 30 last year.
Germany, France pledge
Germany too has pledged €44 billion to Ukraine. It will supply Ukraine with 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks for defence against Russia. France is also providing €1.6 billion worth of military goods. It has also pledged to give Army combat vehicles and missiles that are being phased out. Apart from that, France is giving Ukraine anti-ship missiles, including Exocet missiles. It has also pledged to deliver Mirage 2000 fighter jets.