LONDON, May 19. /TASS/. Britain’s new package of military aid to Ukraine will include long-range artillery, shore-to-ship missiles and drones, as follows from a news release issued by the office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson following a conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Thursday.
"Noting the recent announcement of an additional £1.3 billion ($1.62 billion - TASS) in UK military aid for Ukraine, the Prime Minister set out the support flowing to Ukraine’s defense, including long-range artillery, shore-to-ship missiles and unmanned drones," the news release reads.
Johnson also touched upon the global food price hikes against the background of the conflict in Ukraine and discussed with Zelensky "options to open up critical sea and land supply routes for Ukrainian grain stocks." The sides committed "to direct their teams to work urgently on the next steps."
"The leaders discussed progress in negotiations and agreed to step up work with allies, including the US, France and Germany, to define the longer-term security architecture for Ukraine," the communique said.
On May 7, Britain said that it would spend an extra £1.3 billion on military, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine. Earlier, Johnson said that this package of aid would include radio-electronic warfare means, including GPS signal jamming equipment, counter-battery radars and night vision instruments.
At the end of April Britain’s Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that London was going to supply to Kiev high-tech missiles Brimstone, adding that the missile in question was meant for ground forces and not naval ships. Also, Britain declared the intention to provide to Kiev heavy lift drones for delivering supplies to troops.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24 launched a special military operation in Ukraine following a request for assistance from the leaders of the Donbass republics. The United States, the European Union, Britain and a number of other countries imposed large-scale sanctions on Russia.