UK pledges at least £2.3bn next year for Ukraine military aid

British prime minister praises Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘inspirational’ troops as she announces more support

British Prime Minister Liz Truss has said the UK will give Ukraine at least £2.3 billion ($2.6bn) in military aid next year to help the war-torn country fight off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

The UK will match or exceed the record support given to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “inspirational” troops, she said.

Ms Truss made the announcement of the support package as she prepared to fly to New York, where she will use the UN General Assembly in the US to rally support in helping Ukraine to fight Russia.

She will also try to rally world leaders to end dependence on Russian gas as Mr Putin turns off the taps on the Nord Stream pipeline.

“By turning off the taps of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, Putin has consigned millions of people in Europe to a colder and more difficult winter,” Ms Truss said before departing for the US.

“Too many lives — in Ukraine, in Europe and around the world — are being manipulated by a dependence on Russian energy. We need to work together to end this once and for all.”