Britain mentioned on Monday it will switch two Royal Navy minehunter ships to the Ukrainian Navy, because it units up a brand new maritime defence coalition alongside Norway to assist strengthen Ukraine’s sea operations.
Britain mentioned the 2 Sandown Class mine countermeasures vessels will allow Ukraine to raised counter the menace from Russian sea mines, aiming to revive Ukraine’s export routes by way of the Black Sea.
The switch of the vessels was introduced alongside the launch of the Maritime Functionality Coalition arrange by Britain and Norway to enhance Ukraine’s navy to make it extra appropriate with western allies and enhance safety within the Black Sea.
“This functionality enhance marks the start of a brand new devoted effort by the UK, Norway and our allies to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities over the long run,” British defence minister Grant Shapps mentioned in a press release.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned he was grateful to Britain and Norway for launching the brand new coalition to help his nation.
“Collectively, we’ll strengthen the Ukrainian navy, safeguard maritime transportation routes, and safe freedom of navigation,” Zelenskiy mentioned in a submit on messaging platform X, previously generally known as Twitter.
After the USA, Britain has been the second-largest provider of navy help to Ukraine for the reason that conflict began in February 2021. London has additionally supplied navy coaching programs to round 20,000 Ukrainians over the previous 12 months.
(Reuters – Reporting by Sarah Younger, Enhancing by Kylie MacLellan)
