Britain and Norway pledged over $580 million in military support to Ukraine as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff returned to Moscow for ceasefire talks with Russia.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The United Kingdom on Friday announced a significant new round of military assistance to Ukraine totaling over $580 million, just as Western allies gathered at NATO headquarters in Brussels to accelerate weapons and air defense deliveries. The announcement, reported by the Associated Press, came as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff returned to Moscow for continued ceasefire negotiations, while Ukrainian and NATO officials warned of a potential new Russian offensive.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government, in coordination with Norway, said the support package includes hundreds of thousands of military drones, radar systems, anti-tank mines, and critical repair contracts to sustain Ukrainian armored units on the frontlines.

“This surge is about ensuring Ukraine not only survives, but prevails,” said a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson. “It reflects our determination to back Kyiv with the resources it needs at this decisive moment.”

The move precedes the 27th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a coalition of Western nations formed to coordinate military support for Ukraine. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, addressing the group via video, emphasized the urgent need for more Patriot missile systems. “Ukraine needs a sufficient number of modern systems like Patriot to protect our cities, towns, and the lives of our people — especially from the threat of Russian ballistic weapons,” he said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed that appeal on Telegram, citing the recent deaths of 20 civilians, including nine children, in a missile attack on his hometown. “We are counting on decisions,” he stated.

Though Ukraine has accepted a U.S.-led ceasefire proposal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not agreed to the terms. Kremlin officials have continued engaging in talks but attached what the White House calls “far-reaching conditions” that have stalled progress. “Russia continues to use bilateral talks with the United States to delay negotiations about the war in Ukraine,” said the Institute for the Study of War in a Thursday assessment.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff was again in Moscow Friday but did not say whether he would meet with Putin. Witkoff has previously met with the Russian president and is pressing for acceptance of a ceasefire brokered by Washington.

“President Trump has made it clear he wants the killing to stop,” said a senior White House official. “But the Kremlin’s delays and demands are testing our patience.”

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce reiterated the urgency of halting hostilities. “It is a dynamic that will not be solved militarily. It is a meat grinder,” she said. “Nothing else can be discussed… until the shooting and the killing stops.”

European leaders at the Brussels meeting pledged new aid and military systems. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin would deliver four IRIS-T systems and 30 additional Patriot missiles. The Netherlands is sending a Hawkeye airborne warning system. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur emphasized rapid delivery timetables, citing concerns that Putin could seek a symbolic ceasefire by May 9, Russia’s World War II Victory Day.

“This is why we need to speed up the deliveries as quickly as we can,” said Pevkur.

Despite the show of Western unity, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was not physically present at the Brussels summit. He participated via video after returning to Washington from a trip to Panama. At the prior meeting in February, Hegseth informed European allies that the U.S. would reduce its leadership role in Ukraine assistance, prioritizing security concerns in Asia and at the U.S. southern border.

When asked about the American pivot, Germany’s Pistorius responded diplomatically. “It’s a decision of the new administration in Washington,” he said. “We are here to take over the lead, and we are willing and determined to do that with full responsibility and together with our allies.”

The UK-Germany co-chaired meeting, part of NATO’s effort to coordinate long-term support for Ukraine, concluded Friday afternoon with pledges of expedited deliveries and logistical assistance aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s defenses ahead of an expected Russian escalation in the coming weeks.

Source: The Associated Press