UK guarantees $500m, armoured vehicles to Ukraine

Following UK PM Boris Johnson’s surprise visit to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, we’re getting more information on additional pledges his government has made to support Ukraine.

The UK will guarantee an additional $500m (£384m) in World Bank lending to Ukraine – subject to parliamentary approval – taking its total loan guarantee to $1bn, a Downing Street statement said.

The UK will also relax tariffs on most imports from Ukraine to free up trade.

This is in addition to the 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems that the UK will provide to Ukraine.

The aid is in addition to £100m worth of high-grade military equipment announced on Friday, Downing Street said.

In a statement released after the visit, Johnson praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people” for thwarting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “monstrous aims”.

“Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st Century,” Johnson said.

“I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run.”

Meanwhile, the UK is to send 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems to support Ukraine, Downing Street has said following talks between PM Boris Johnson and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

“It is because of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky’s resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that (Vladimir) Putin’s monstrous aims are being thwarted,” Boris Johnson said after meeting Zelensky, according to a Downing Street statement.

Earlier, a No 10 spokesman said the prime minister travelled to Kyiv to set out “a new package of financial and military aid”.

These are the first specific details to emerge – we’ll keep you updated as we find out more.