Accelerated support for Ukraine to top agenda at Nato defence ministers meeting

The acceleration of military support to Ukraine is set to be top of the agenda for a gathering of Nato Defence Ministers.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and his Nato counterparts are expected to discuss how to maintain and accelerate support for Ukraine, the transformation of Nato's military and Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.

Mr Wallace has already met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, who appeared to use his arrival at the summit to appeal for western fighter jets, as well as the Romanian and French defence ministers.

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"I am very pleased to be back at NATO to continue the vital work to support Ukraine, as well as meeting with my defence counterparts," Mr Wallace said.

"Our important work is ongoing, the UK and our Allies will stand in solidarity with Ukraine for as long as it takes."

The UK, alongside Nato allies, continues to train and equip Ukraine ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

It comes after the ninth meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, where partners reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine.

So far, the members of the UDCG have committed over £40 billion to Ukraine in military aid, with the UK sending over £2.3 billion in lethal aid since 2022 - a figure the Prime Minister has said the UK will match or exceed this year.

Defence ministers from across Nato are also expected to review alliance's enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe.

The UK currently leads the battlegroup in Estonia, with 1,500 soldiers currently on a major exercise - Exercise Winter Camp, which sees the participation of 40 main battle tanks and 100 armoured fighting vehicles across three countries.

The UK is also set to lead Nato's Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) in January 2024, having previously led the VJTF last year.

The meeting of defence ministers comes days after President Zelensky visited the UK to see Ukrainian troops training at the UK’s Lulworth Ranges, Dorset.