Healey to call for '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine and force Putin to negotiate
John Healey is expected to argue that the West should again boost its military support for Ukraine in an effort to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Donald Trump has already threatened to impose 'very severe' tariffs on Russia if it does not agree a ceasefire by September 2, 50 days on from the US president's announcement that he would sell 'top-of-the-line' weapons to Nato that could then be given to Ukraine.
On Monday, Mr Healey will use a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) to back Mr Trump's proposal and pledge that the UK will 'play our full part in its success to bolster Ukraine's immediate fight'.
Calling for more support from Western allies, he is expected to say: 'Alongside this, the US has started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or face crippling economic sanctions.
'As members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, we need to step up in turn with a '50-day drive' to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and force Putin to the negotiating table.'
Monday will be the fourth time Mr Healey has chaired the UDCG, and the third occasion he has done so alongside German defence minister Boris Pistorius.
The group, which brings together defence ministers and officials from Ukraine's allies, was chaired by the US until Mr Trump came to power and began rowing back on American support for Kyiv and European security.
Mr Healey's comments come as the Ministry of Defence confirmed the UK had sent £150 million worth of air defence missiles and artillery rounds to Ukraine in the past two months.
The deliveries are part of a commitment to spend £700 million on air defence and artillery ammunition for Ukraine this year, alongside other funding to provide more of the drones that have become key weapons in the war with Russia.
The UK has delivered 50,000 drones to Ukraine in the last six months, with another 20,000 coming from a coalition of nations led by Britain and Latvia.
Monday's UDCG is expected to see further commitments, with Germany and the UK agreeing to procure more air defence missiles using 170 million euros of funding from Berlin.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was 'right' that the Government 'continues to provide all possible support to Ukraine'.
He added: 'It is also important that we stand firm alongside the United States in reinforcing their 50-day deadline to ensure Putin is under maximum pressure to pursue peace.
'That means all of our allies playing their part, and following the PM's recent summit with Chancellor Merz, we hope that this 50-day drive will include German confirmation that it intends to provide Taurus missiles to Ukraine.'
Meanwhile, Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with drones and missiles.
Confirming a string of attacks on civilian targets in Odesa and critical infrastructure in the Sumy region on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also thanked international leaders 'who understand how important it is to promptly implement our agreements' aimed at boosting Ukraine's defence capabilities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
7 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Ukrainian kindergarten hit by Putin missile as pics show giant crater in playground & rubble strewn across naptime beds
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A KINDERGARTEN was destroyed by one of Vladimir Putin's missiles in another ruthless strike that laid bare the tyrant's war on Ukraine's children. The missile slammed into the building in Kyiv — leaving a gaping crater where toddlers once played and naptime beds buried under dust. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The crater from a falling Russian attack drone is in the ground outside nursery and kindergarten N706 Credit: Cover Images 8 Dust covers the beds at nursery and kindergarten in the Darnytskyi district Credit: Cover Images 8 Debris covers theKyiv nursery's floor by a flight of stairs Credit: Cover Images 8 A man removes glass shards from a windowsill as the building's walls are covered in holes from the missile impact Credit: Cover Images Heartbreaking images from nursery and kindergarten N706 in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district revealed the shattered remains of what was once a bright and joyful sanctuary. Tiny beds with purple throws turned grey as they were coated in ash. Fire-blackened doors hanging from their hinges. Walls once painted with fairytale castles and smiling flowers are now just a faint reminder of brighter, peaceful days. A broken window now frames a colourful wall drawing, eerily untouched by the chaos around it. Outside, the light blue walls of the school still stand, but windows have been blasted out and debris now chokes the floor and stairways. A man is seen carefully sweeping glass shards from a windowsill. Meanwhile, a woman walks her dog past the wreckage as a little girl stands, silent, beside her — staring at the ruins of the school. The strike was a part of a 10-hour Russian aerial blitz that saw 426 drones and 24 missiles hurled across Ukraine overnight. Kyiv bore the brunt of the assault, as explosions lit up the capital's skyline, forcing families underground once again. Warped Russian state TV parades 'drone death factory' packed with kamikaze killing machines after Ukraine blitzes Moscow The missile that hit the kindergarten came as Mad Vlad unleashed yet another wave of destruction across civilian areas. It marked the second time in three days that NATO fighter jets were scrambled in response to the bombardments. Ukrainian officials said at least 15 people were injured, including a 12-year-old boy, in the barrage. Subway stations turned into makeshift shelters as drones buzzed through the air above Kyiv. Homes and commercial buildings were caught in the onslaught, with rescuers racing between four districts to sift through wreckage and aid the wounded. 8 The colourful walls are a haunting reminder of what was once a happy place Credit: Cover Images 8 A broken window frames a drawing on the wall Credit: Cover Images 8 A fire-stricken door is seen outside the nursery Credit: Cover Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed recovery, saying: 'Rescue and emergency efforts are underway in our cities and communities following the Russian attack… 'The waves of attacks lasted all night and continued into the morning.' The strikes came amid growing fears that Putin is preparing for an even deadlier chapter in this war. According to German Major General Christian Freuding, Moscow is plotting a mass drone assault involving 2,000 Shahed drones, in a bid to overwhelm Ukraine's already strained air defences. The general warned: 'We have uncovered worrying intelligence… [Russia is] significantly expanding its weapons production capacity.' Chilling footage aired on Russian state TV showed teenagers working in a so-called 'drone death factory,' with Moscow boasting about the 'huge, bright workshops' churning out kamikaze drones by the hundreds. Meanwhile, Ukraine has not remained passive. Kyiv's own drone army valiantly struck Moscow for the fifth night in a row, wreaking havoc at major airports and delaying over 400 flights as Russia's defences scrambled to respond.
Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Nigel Farage's 'fantasy' plan to cut crime as huge questions remain
Nigel Farage has been accused of peddling a string of 'ill-thought through slogans' after making big promises to tackle crime, with questions over his sums and the impact on prisons Nigel Farage has yet again been accused of peddling "fantasy" plans based on dodgy sums - this time on tackling crime. The Reform leader resorted to "amateur hour" headline-grabbing measures, including sending thousands of prisoners overseas to serve lenghty sentences, critics said. He named El Salavador as an example - but then admitted he hadn't discussed it with the central American nation. Mr Farage claimed it would cost £17.4billion to halve crime in five years, a sum he insisted could be raised without raising tax - but was later told his estimate was "billions out". His plans appeared to unravel after he said drug traffickers would face mandatory life imprisonment, as would people with three convictions for serious crimes. He also said people found in possession of a knife would not be eligible for suspended sentences. Despite this his proposals would create just 30,000 new prison spaces. Last year there were nearly 50,000 crimes reported to police involving a knife in England and Wales. The operating capacity of prisons was 89,600 in June this year. Sex offenders and those convicted of violent crimes would not qualify for early release, Mr Farage said. The Reform leader said the Army would be ordered to help build five "Nightingale" prisons - modelled on the hospitals fast-tracked during the Covid crisis. Inmates from overseas would be sent back to their homelands, he claimed. But it is unclear what would happen if countries refuse to take them back, with Mr Farage suggesting the UK would use its ecomonic heft to punish those who say no. The previous Tory government suggested sending prisoners to overseas jails - but experts questioned whether this would actually work. The populist Reform boss also claimed he would abolish a shoplifters' "charter" - even though he and his party voted against the Government's Crime and Policing Bill which does just that. Tory law changes mean thefts from shops worth under £200 are less likely to result in prosecution - sending cases sprialling. Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves said: ' Nigel Farage repeatedly tried to block tough measures to make our streets safer. Reform is more interested in headline-chasing than serious policy-making in the interests of the British people. Farage's Reform MPs voted against the Labour Government's landmark Crime and Policing Bill which tackles antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, violence against women and girls, knife crime, and child abuse. The public deserves better than ill-thought through slogans and unfunded policy commitments. 'Unlike Reform, this Labour government is backing up its words with action." And Tory shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: "Farage's sums don't add Reform's crime plan suggests prison places can be provided at £25,000, when the real cost is £40,000. This isn't a manifesto - it's a fantasy, written on the back of a fag packet. "Farage's numbers are billions out. You don't halve crime with wishful thinking. You do it with a real plan, real costs, and real leadership. Britain needs serious leadership, not amateur hour." Mr Farage claimed his plans would see 12,400 new prison places on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land within 18 months of a new Government. He said there would be an additional 10,400 created by transferring serious offenders overseas. He named El Salvador, but then admitted that he had not tested the water to see if its government would be open to such a deal with the UK. It is also unknown how much this would cost, but Reform documents suggest £1.25billion would be set aside over five years. He also said it is "fair, right and proper" that British criminals are taken back in return. Mr Farage said: "Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. "We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice," Following Tory proposals to send prisoners overseas last year, the Prison Reform Trust responded: "Examples of where similar policies have been implemented by other countries to relieve problems of overcrowded and limited capacity have shown mixed results. "In the past decade, both Norway and Belgium have rented prison places in the Netherlands to handle problems of overcrowding and limited capacity. Ultimately, neither Norway nor Belgium extended their contracts with the Netherlands. "Both schemes were heavily criticised by national and international detention monitoring bodies." And it said: "In the case of Belgium, the arrangement did not reduce overcrowding – which continued to get worse."
Daily Record
8 minutes ago
- Daily Record
UK military now has new AI digital targeting system similar to Ukraine and Russia
The ASGARD system is designed to dramatically enhance the speed and accuracy of the UK's battlefield strikes - with the UK military now having a system similar to those used by Ukraine and Russia The British Army has revealed cutting-edge AI digital targeting technology comparable to systems deployed by Russia and Ukraine. ASGARD is engineered to drastically enhance both the velocity and precision of the UK's combat operations. The technology underwent trials during recent NATO military exercises, employing artificial intelligence and sophisticated communication networks to identify and engage hostile targets across extended distances. It allows choices that previously required hours to be executed within minutes, representing a substantial enhancement to operational pace. ASGARD was revealed by Defence Secretary John Healey last October, with contracts distributed in January before an official prototype was deployed mere months afterwards, reports the Express. The system underwent successful evaluation during NATO's Exercise Hedgehog, carried out in Estonia across a fortnight in May. In a statement, Maria Eagle, the Defence Procurement Minister, said: "We are learning the lessons from Ukraine so our frontline personnel can strike further and faster and maintain advantage over our adversaries. "ASGARD exemplifies the vision of the Strategic Defence Review, with speed and world-class capability." Describing the system as a "breakthrough", Sir Roland Walker, the Chief of General Staff, added: "ASGARD helps double our lethality and exponentially reduces the time to see, decide, and strike. What took hours, now takes minutes." He also highlighted how the new system brings Britain closer to the high-speed targeting networks employed by the likes of Ukraine and Russia. It forms part of the Army's strategy to establish a 'Digital Targeting Web' across the Armed Forces by 2027 which has already secured backing of over £1billion in funding. Meanwhile, Britain and its people are not safe, a former Nato general secretary has warned, as he told Parliament describing the country as underprepared for war is an "understatement". Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, who co-authored the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said the UK is lacking in ammunition, training, people, logistics, and medical capacity. He told the upper chamber: "Bearing in mind the difficult world that we live in and have to survive in, this is what I firmly believe: we are underinsured, we are underprepared, we are not safe. This country and its people are not safe. "The British people are faced with a world in turmoil, with great power competitions spilling over now into conflict, with constant grey zone attacks on our mainland, and with Russia - often with the co-operation of Iran, China and North Korea - challenging the existing world order. We simply in this country are not safe."
