Mel Stride MP, who chairs the influential House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, has backed the announcement by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace that the UK will step up its supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
The Government confirmed it will provide Ukraine with the cutting edge M270 weapon system, which can strike targets up to 80km away with pinpoint accuracy, and will also supply M31A1 munitions at scale.
The decision by the Defence Secretary comes in response to requests from Ukrainian forces for longer range precision weapons in order to defend themselves from Russian heavy artillery, which has been used to devastating effect in the eastern Donbas region.
Mr Wallace said:
“The UK stands with Ukraine in this fight and is taking a leading role in supplying its heroic troops with the vital weapons they need to defend their country from unprovoked invasion. If the international community continues its support, I believe Ukraine can win.
As Russia’s tactics change, so must our support to Ukraine. These highly capable multiple-launch rocket systems will enable our Ukrainian friends to better protect themselves against the brutal use of long-range artillery, which Putin’s forces have used indiscriminately to flatten cities.”
Ukrainian troops will be trained on how to use the launchers in the UK, so that they can maximise the effectiveness of the systems.
Mr Stride said:
“The UK was the first European country to supply lethal aid to Ukraine in response to the unprovoked and unjustifiable invasion by Russia. We have since provided thousands of anti-tank missiles, anti-air systems and armoured vehicles to Ukrainian forces but must step this up so Ukraine can defend itself.”
