LONDON PLEDGES MORE AID TO KYIV

Britain will provide an extra

£1.3 billion (HK$12.5 billion) in military support to Ukraine to help the country defend against Russian forces, officials said yesterday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, United States President Joe Biden and leaders from other Group of Seven countries were expected to hold online talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky early today to discuss the further support.

The meeting was partly meant to display unity among Western allies on Victory in Europe Day, which marks Nazi Germany’s surrender in 1945.

The funding, which comes from British government reserves, includes £300 million of military kit promised by Johnson late last week, such as radar systems to target Russian artillery, GPS jamming equipment and night vision devices.

The British government said the package was the highest rate of British military spending on a conflict since Iraq and Afghanistan.

Officials said Johnson would meet British arms companies later this month to discuss increasing production in response to the demand created by the conflict in Ukraine.

Johnson said Britain’s aid to Ukraine would also help boost the British defence economy.

Britain has already committed to about £1.5 billion for Ukraine, including humanitarian aid and loan guarantees.

Also yesterday, Croatia’s prime minister visited Ukraine following reports a Croatian citizen fighting in Mariupol was captured by Russian forces.

The Croatian government said in a statement the visit by Andrej Plenkovic presented “an expression of solidarity and support” with the Ukrainian leadership and the people.

“Croatia knows what it is like to be under a military aggression and it continues to offer political, diplomatic, financial, humanitarian, technical and any other possible assistance to Ukraine,” the statement said.

Plenkovic met Zelenskyy and other officials.

Associated Press