Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv allies agree £18.2bn military support package ahead of Trump envoy’s Putin talks – UK Times

Russian President Vladimir Putin will on Friday holds talks on Ukraine with US president Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who is on a visit to Russia, the Tass state news agency reported, citing the Kremlin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two could also discuss a future meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Trump.

But he cautioned that Mr Witkoff’s visit would not be “momentous” and that no one should expect major breakthroughs.

The Estonian navy detained an oil tanker in the Baltic Sea on Friday and boarded the vessel to inspect its legal status and safety, the country’s prime minister said.

The vessel, named Kiwala, was on its way to Russia at the time of the seizure, MarineTraffic data showed.

“Estonia takes suspicious activities in the Baltic Sea very seriously,” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said in a post on social media X.

A former ballerina jailed for donating £40 to support Ukraine has returned home after being freed in a prisoner exchange.

Ksenia Karelina, who spent more than a year in a Russian jail, landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at around 11pm, local time, on Thursday.

Her fiance boxer Chris van Heerden was there to greet her at the runway. He said in a statement he was “overjoyed to hear that the love of my life, Ksenia Karelina, is on her way home from wrongful detention in Russia.

“She has endured a nightmare for 15 months and I cannot wait to hold her. Our dog, Boots, is also eagerly awaiting her return.”

Britain’s defence Secretary, John Healey, has said Ukraine’s allies had pledged €21bn (£18.2bn) in military aid – a record boost in funding to Ukraine

Included in that figure is the UK’s £4.5bn commitment for this year, which Mr Healey says is its highest contribution yet.

Mr Healey said 2025 is the critical year for Ukraine in the fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion.

“Now is the critical moment… for defence industries, militaries and governments to step up,” he said, adding it’s about sending a message to Ukraine that “we stand with you in the fight and in the peace”.

Lithuania intends to provide an additional €20 million for Ukraine to purchase ammunition, Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has said.

She urged allies to accelerate assistance to Ukraine, warning that “the summer may be very difficult”.

Šakalienė said that Lithuania described ammunition as one of the most urgently needed resources for Ukraine at present.

Special envoy of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia, where he is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to reports.

This will mark their third meeting as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to find a path toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, Axios reports, citing a source familiar with the trip and flight data from FlightRadar.

A source in politics told Kyiv Post: “Trump wants some kind of victory [in talks with Putin on ending the war] in his first 100 days in office. Hopefully there’ll be some version of a ceasefire — including a humanitarian track.”

According to Axios, if no ceasefire deal is reached by the end of the month, Trump may impose additional sanctions on Russia.

Trump is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in ceasefire negotiations and was recently described as “p***** off” over Putin’s recent comments about Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence announced that a “major” new package of military support will be delivered by British and Ukrainian suppliers to help boost Ukraine’s armed forces as they continue to defend against Russian attack.

The package, worth £450 million, includes £350 million from the UK, with further funding being provided by Norway, via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.

It will include £160 million of UK funding to provide repairs and maintenance to vehicles and equipment that the UK has already provided to Ukraine – partnering UK companies with Ukrainian industry.

The package also includes a “close fight” military aid package – with funding for radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones – worth more than £250 million, using funding from the UK and Norway building on the work of the drone capability coalition, led by the UK and Latvia.

Defence Secretary John Healey added: “2025 is the critical year for the war in Ukraine, and this is the critical moment.”

The Netherlands has announced the allocation of €150m to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans made the announcement to journalists ahead of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Mr Brekelmans referenced President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent appeal for greater air defense support adding hat the Netherlands would continue delivering F-16 fighter jets as part of its ongoing assistance.

He said the new €150m package would “further help Ukraine protect its skies”.