LONDON (Reuters) – A British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields.
Britain’s defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was “now the most mined country on earth,” which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing capabilities were essential to help it push forward.
The package will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine – a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden.
Defence minister Grant Shapps will announce the package alongside allies and attend his first NATO-Ukraine Council, where he is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza crisis and reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia.
($1 = 0.8150 pounds)
(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James)