In the week after Russia invaded, a total of 27 countries sent Ukraine more than $1 billion of weapons and supplies as it sought to defend itself.
In the wake of the outbreak of war, governments around the globe have pledged to help Ukraine, with some issuing sanctions on Russian business and individuals in a bid to cease its invasion, while others have sent weapons and supplies - and a lot at that.
As detailed in a new report from Business Insider, military aid promised to Ukraine in the first week of war has been counted up, reporting that during that period, the ‘European Union and 27 countries donated more than $1 billion worth of weapons and supplies for the fight’. While the logistics could have taken months to arrange, the aid was rallied within a matter of days.
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In the first 24 hours after Russia’s invasion, Lithuania, Poland, France, Estonia and the United States all announced military aid for Ukraine. According to Business Insider, by the end of the first week, the US and NATO had also sent more than 17,000 anti-tank weapons to the country.
For the first time ever, the European Union financed and purchased arms for a country outside of its borders, while in another historical moment, US President Joe Biden approved $350 million in military aid - marking the largest-ever single transfer of arms from US warehouses to another country.
Earlier today, Saturday 26 March, the UK announced it would be providing £2 million of food supplies to parts of Ukraine surrounded by Russian forces. The Foreign Office said warehouses in Poland and Slovakia are being readied to supply the ‘rapid donation’ of dried food, tinned goods and water to the Ukrainian government from early next week. Around 25 truckloads will then to be transported by road and rail to the communities in greatest need.
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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: “This vital donation of food and supplies will help support the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s barbaric invasion.
“Our teams are working day and night with our Polish and Slovakian friends and the government of Ukraine to ensure those at most at risk get the essential supplies they so badly need.”
The Ministry of Defence also confirmed that typhoon jets and Royal Air Force personnel are being deployed to Romania for a fourth year to join the long-standing NATO air policing mission for the Black Sea region – part of NATO’s increased presence in Europe in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the department.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: Ukraine, World News