Ukraine signs one of the largest security agreements in its history — Umerov
Photo: EPA/UPG
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Ukraine and the United Kingdom have signed a major security and defense agreement. The £1.6 billion project is focused on strengthening Ukraine's air defense.
According to Rubryka, citing the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the agreement was reached on March 2 in Britain during a visit by the Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky. The deal includes the launch of the large-scale LMM-RapidRanger project to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities.
"As part of this initiative, we will receive over 5,000 LMM (Lightweight Multirole Missile) interceptor missiles and their launchers," Umerov stated.
He explained that LMMs are high-precision interceptor missiles effective against Shahed drones, adding that they have already demonstrated their effectiveness in battles between 2022 and 2024.
"This is one of the largest security and defense agreements in Ukraine's history," Umerov emphasized. "The £1.6 billion project, funded through a loan guaranteed by the British state agency UK Export Finance (UKEF), aims to enhance Ukraine's air defense by 2030."
According to Umerov, the project will be implemented in cooperation with:
- The British company Thales
- Ukrainian enterprises
- The British government
Beyond supplying weapons, the intergovernmental agreement also includes:
- Localization of production
- Technology transfer
Umerov stressed that these measures will strengthen Ukraine's strategic independence in air defense.
"I extend my gratitude to the British government and all our partners for supporting Ukraine in the fight for freedom!" he concluded.
What is known about the summit on Ukraine?
On March 2, an international summit was held in London, bringing together leaders from over 10 countries, along with top officials from the EU and NATO.
The key topics of the summit included:
- Strengthening Ukraine's current position through continued military aid and increased economic pressure on Russia.
- Establishing a strong, lasting agreement to ensure permanent peace in Ukraine and enable it to deter and defend against future Russian aggression.
- Planning the next steps for reliable security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also traveled to London for the event. The day before, he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Following the summit, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would provide Ukraine with £1.6 billion (approximately $2 billion) to purchase over 5,000 air defense missiles.
He also stated that Britain was taking significant steps to support Ukraine, including deploying a military contingent.
Ahead of the summit, Starmer had noted that Britain and France were working with Ukraine on a peace plan, which they intended to present to Washington for consideration.
