• Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey speaks during the "Coalition of the willing Defense ministers" meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on April 10, 2025. (AFP)

The British government has pledged an additional £450 million in military aid to Ukraine, as the UK and Germany prepare to co-host a meeting of 50 allied nations in Brussels.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said defense leaders are gathering to intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to end the war in Ukraine. "We must step up to deter Russian aggression by continuing to bolster Ukraine's defences," he added.

Breakdown of new aid package

The new aid package includes funding for hundreds of thousands of drones, anti-tank mines, and maintenance for previously supplied military vehicles. Around £350 million will be directly provided by the UK, with the remainder coming from Norway via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

Of the total, £160 million is allocated for the repair and maintenance of UK-supplied military vehicles and equipment. Another portion, worth over £250 million, will support close-combat needs, including radar systems, drones, and anti-tank mines.

"We cannot jeopardise peace by forgetting the war, which is why today's major package will surge support to Ukraine's frontline fight," Healey pointed out, stressing that "2025 is the critical year for Ukraine."

The commitment builds on a series of military pledges from the UK. Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a £1.6 billion missile deal during a summit of European leaders in London, in addition to a £2.2 billion loan backed by frozen Russian assets to fund further military support.

The Liberal Democrats criticised Friday’s announcement as a "small change", urging the government to seize Russian assets in the UK to boost Ukraine’s funding.

Defense spokeswoman Helen Maguire stated, "While we welcome any increase in support for Ukraine, this package is small change compared to what's needed to combat Putin's barbaric war."

Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are co-chairing the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on Friday. The group, previously led by the US Secretary of Defense, came under UK leadership after Donald Trump became president in January, marking a shift in Washington’s role in European security.

This meeting follows a recent Franco-British-led summit involving defense ministers from 30 countries, where discussions included the possibility of deploying a future force in Ukraine to ensure lasting peace.

While Healey ruled out a "reassurance force" that would physically separate the warring sides along the contact line, he emphasized that strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities remains central to any plan.

Read more: Macron calls for 'strong action' against Russia if truce not achieved

Lack of clarity

The talks raised more questions than they answered, as US-led peace efforts with Russia remain stalled.

The UK and France are leading the initiative within a "coalition of the willing" comprising 30 nations exploring ways to support any ceasefire deal that Trump may secure.

According to London and Paris, meaningful progress has been achieved over several rounds of talks, and military planners are now intensifying efforts to determine how to ensure security in the air, at sea, and on the ground under any potential peace arrangement.

Nonetheless, several ministers from other participating nations voiced concerns over the lack of clarity surrounding the potential mission’s objectives and whether it would be supported by US military power.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans questioned, "What is the potential mission, what is going to be the goal?"

"What is the mandate? What would do we do in the different scenarios, for example, if there would be any escalation regarding Russia?" he added.

"It's very important to have the United States on board, but then it also needs to be clear what type of mission it is and what we ask from the United States."

European officials said that, so far, around six countries — including the UK, France, and the Baltic states — have expressed willingness to contribute troops.

Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said Stockholm still had “a number of questions that we need to get clarified” before committing. "It's helpful if there's a clarity of what that mission would entail, and what do we do -- if we are peacekeeping, deterrence or reassurance," he indicated.

The Telegraph newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources, that Healey on Thursday urged his counterparts to advance discussions on the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of any future peace agreement with Russia.

According to the sources, the UK is considering a five-year troop deployment to Ukraine under proposals currently being discussed among allied nations.

A major challenge for European allies is the lack of visibility into US diplomatic efforts with Russia. The Trump administration has engaged in multiple rounds of talks with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in hopes of brokering a ceasefire, but with no concrete outcomes so far.

Although both sides reportedly agreed in principle to avoid attacks on energy infrastructure, they have failed to finalise conditions, and strikes have continued.

Russia, for its part, has stated it would not accept the deployment of troops from any NATO member state on Ukrainian territory as part of a peace agreement.

Idea to send deterrent forces to Ukraine paves way for foreign intervention: Moscow

Meanwhile, Alexey Polishchuk, director of the Second CIS Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti that London and Paris's discussions on sending deterrent forces to Ukraine are preparations for foreign intervention.

"The issue of peacekeeping is not on the agenda now. According to world practice, the main condition for deploying peacekeepers is achieving a peaceful settlement or a sustainable ceasefire," he said.

According to Polishchuk, Kiev is rejecting the peace process and even sabotaging the moratorium on strikes on energy facilities.

"The negotiations on the formation of the so-called deterrent forces, which are currently being conducted by the 'coalition of the willing' led by France and Britain, are in fact a preparation for foreign intervention," he said.

On her part, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that any foreign military presence in Ukraine will be viewed as a threat to Russia and carries the risk of a direct military clash.

Read more: Ukraine secures $1B EU loan, to be repaid using Russian assets: PM