The UK has been a significant supporter of Ukraine. It is the third largest donor to Ukraine, paying billions of euros after the US and the EU and ahead of Germany. The UK is also the most significant individual EU Member State donor.

The first UK sanctions on Russia related to a “special operation” against Ukraine. They were imposed in response to Putin’s decree (recognizing the ‘independence’ of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine) on 22 February 2022. Two days before the invasion commenced and after the first EU sanctions were imposed.

During a crisis, the UK has coordinated with its partners and allies. The EU, the United States (US), and other G7 countries have strongly reacted to the war. This has involved a combination of sanctions against Russia (and its ally Belarus). Sanctions are in various forms of diplomatic, military, humanitarian, and financial support. Therefore, UK foreign policy on Ukraine includes a range of actions from sanctions to foreign aid. This kind of support weighs the UK’s economy and people.

Military aid to Ukraine

Since Russia’s special operation in February 2022, bilateral military aid has been significantly stepped up. Many partners supply necessary weapons to Ukraine for the first time. For some countries, such as Germany and Sweden, this marked a dramatic reversal of their previous defence policies. It was ruled out providing offensive weapons.

As the conflict in Ukraine has evolved, so has the type of weaponry being provided. Some concerns are that providing increasingly more sophisticated weaponry could escalate the conflict. Air defence, the supply of ammunition, and long-range strike capabilities remain a priority. NATO considered delays in assistance would have affected Ukraine’s ability to defend its lines. Therefore, Russian forces have subsequently made tactical gains in eastern Ukraine. Several countries, including the UK, have said that weapons donated to Ukraine could be used in self-defence. This means that Ukraine can strike legitimate military targets inside Russia. This could be new elements of UK foreign policy on Ukraine.

How the UK aids Ukraine?

The UK is one of the leading donors to Ukraine, like the US and Germany. This is a definitive part of UK foreign policy on Ukraine. The UK has pledged £12.5 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022. £7.6 billion is for military assistance, including £3 billion for military aid in coming years.

The UK is providing both lethal and non-lethal weaponry, including tanks, air defence systems, and long-range precision strike missiles. Meanwhile, the UK has committed to training Ukrainian fast jet pilots. Combat fighter aircraft will not be provided. The UK also hosts a training program (Operation Interflex), which several allies support. Over 30,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained so far. They are going to practice a further 10,000 by mid-2024.

New government of the UK                 

Labour promises to deepen UK-EU security coordination, especially with Ukraine in mind. Starmer wants to uphold Britain’s firm material and political aid for Ukraine. He also maintains London’s robust sanctions regime on Russia. Demonstrating how this policy aligns with Europe and the US, Starmer told US President Joe Biden that Britain’s support for Kyiv is “unwavering.”

In 2024, the UK has pledged a total of £12.5 billion (over $16 billion) in support to Ukraine. This is while £7.6 billion ($9.3 billion) considered for military assistance. On his early day on the job, Lammy is on a grand tour of ‘key partner’ countries. Countries such as Germany, Poland, and Sweden, where continued support for Ukraine was high on the agenda. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has expressed that the UK’s commitment to Ukraine is “ironclad.” The UK’s new Defence Secretary, John Healey, went to Odessa. He talked with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his foreign minister Rustem Umerov. Healey pledged more artillery guns, ammunition rounds, and missiles for Ukraine.

The future of European security depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

The British government thinks that the only acceptable outcome is a Ukrainian victory. In this case, it should be feasible. To achieve this goal, they will require the significant expansion and entire commitment of the British military industry to it. They also need the complete deployment of the British armed forces to Europe. This is a backup in case this escalates to direct war with Russia.

This is all the more so because British armed forces and industries are in a genuinely dilapidated state. The army has only one brigade available for immediate deployment. The ships keep breaking down, and there are far too few. In this condition, to make new British security commitments in Asia would verge on strategic madness.

UK foreign policy on Ukraine: Full support

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reacted early to intelligence reports of a Russian buildup on the Ukrainian border. From December 2021, it began identifying supply routes, deploying humanitarian and logistics specialists, and pre-approving allocations to humanitarian partners. The first payments were made on the day of the invasion. A £220 million package of support was announced on 6 March 2022. This is all part of UK foreign policy on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government has made serious efforts to confront corruption. Meanwhile, it remains a severe risk to Ukraine’s long-term recovery. The UK has made a valuable contribution to reducing the scope for corruption in public procurement and recovery planning. The risks related to international fiscal support and eventual large-scale reconstruction will require careful management.

The new government will have tough choices to make regarding foreign policy.

More funding will be needed for international relations. It gives low forecast economic growth, high debt interest payments, and severe pressure on public services. At the same time, the UK confronts complicated global challenges. An assertive China; tension between China and the US. Doubts about the US’s commitment to European security. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the threat from Russia, and an unfolding Middle East crisis. Many other issues persist, including climate change, risks from new technologies, and more fragmented global trade. There are also areas for improvement in arms control and pandemic preparedness.

The Conservative government vigorously supports Ukraine. This is part of UK foreign policy on Ukraine. Three prime ministers have maintained it since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and the Labour opposition has echoed it. It has given the UK a prominent voice in the defence of Europe. This support has strengthened the UK’s conversation with EU countries about common risks. This opens up the chance for a more constructive discussion of post-Brexit relations.