UK Foreign Secretary: Ukraine Has Right to Use British Arms on Russian Territory

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron visited Kyiv on May 2 and announced a significant increase in military assistance. The UK will now commit £3 billion (US$3.74 billion) annually to Ukraine’s defense “for as long as it takes.”

This announcement follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent pledge to dedicate 2.5% of the U.K.'s GDP to defense and maintain at least £3 billion in yearly military support for Ukraine.

“We will give three billion pounds every year for as long as is necessary. We’ve just really emptied all we can in terms of giving equipment,” Cameron said in an interview with Reuters. “Some of that (equipment) is actually arriving in Ukraine today, while I’m here,” he stated outside St. Michael’s Cathedral in Kyiv.

Furthermore, Cameron affirmed Ukraine’s right to use the weaponry provided by the UK for strikes within Russia if they choose so: “Ukraine has that right. Just as Russia is striking inside Ukraine, you can quite understand why Ukraine feels the need to make sure it’s defending itself.”

The UK has consistently demonstrated strong support for Ukraine. Since February 2022, the country has committed £12.5 billion ($15.6 billion) in aid to Ukraine, with £7.6 billion ($9.5 billion) designated for military assistance. This latest commitment from the UK signifies a long-term strategy to bolster Ukraine’s defenses and equip them for the ongoing war.