Ukraine and the UK conclude a historic deal to supply Ukraine with 5,000 Thales air defense missiles. The U.S. joined the “coalition of the willing” meetings for the first time. The EU Commission President announces a new fund for Ukraine reconstruction.
Ukraine, UK conclude historic deal to supply Ukraine with 5,000 Thales air defense missiles
The UK and Ukraine will on Thursday sign a previously announced deal to supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 air defense missiles from Thales, according to a statement by the British government. The delivery will come under a 19-year financing agreement, supported by a 2.5-billion-pound (USD 3.4 billion) credit guarantee.
“By unlocking UKEF-backed finance, we’re enabling the delivery of vital equipment to Ukraine and strengthening our own defence industrial base. It’s a clear demonstration of our Plan for Change in action—backing British business, boosting exports, and standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression,” UK Minister for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas said on the Thales deal.
The agreement is expected to be signed in Rome, where the Ukraine Recovery Conference is taking place. The UK will also supply up to 283 million pounds in bilateral assistance to Ukraine over the next year.
On March 2, the British government announced a deal worth up to £1.6 billion (USD 2 billion) for Thales to make more than 5,000 lightweight multi-role missiles (LMMs) for Ukraine. Each such missile is about 70mm in diameter and is reportedly to be used to intercept Russian attack drones.
U.S. joins “coalition of the willing” meetings for first time
A U.S. delegation was present for the first time at a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” in Rome on Thursday. Retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, was at the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of a conference on Ukraine’s recovery held in the Italian capital. Also present were Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
“Today in Rome, our security format — the Coalition of the Willing — continues, and the meeting is currently underway. For the first time, representatives of the United States have joined this format: General [Kellogg], and Senators [Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal],” head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak said in a post to X on Thursday.
A “coalition of the willing” is a group of European and non-European countries eager to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Led by the UK and France, the initiative could see troops from a number of European and NATO countries deployed to Ukraine as peacekeepers. British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, first announced the establishment of the coalition on March 2, 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi met with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Ukraine special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, in Rome on Wednesday. Kellogg chairs the U.S. delegation participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in the Italian capital on July 10-11.
“We discussed weapons supplies and strengthening air defense. Given the increase in Russian attacks, this remains one of our top priorities. We also covered the purchase of American weapons, joint defense manufacturing, and localization efforts in Ukraine. We focused in detail on sanctions pressure,” Zelenskyi said in a post to X.
EU Commission President announces new fund for Ukraine reconstruction
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the creation of the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine on Thursday during a speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. As for who will contribute to the fund, von der Leyen named Italy, Germany, France, Poland and the European Investment Bank.
“I am particularly pleased to announce today the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the largest equity fund globally to support Reconstruction. It will kickstart investment in energy, transport, critical raw materials and dual use industries,” von der Leyen said.
“We are literally taking a stake in Ukraine’s future by leveraging public money to bring large scale private sector investments and to help rebuild the country. I am particularly pleased that we are building it together with Italy, Germany, France, Poland and the European Investment Bank. And I trust that others will want to join,” she added.
Speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi called on international partners to create a coalition for Ukraine’s recovery and adopt a “Marshall Plan-style” approach to rebuilding the country.
