Britain is in discussions with Ukraine to sell it weapons for the first time amid concerns that Russia could exploit the gas crisis to seize territory.
This was reported by British newspaper The Times with reference to a Ukrainian diplomat.
Under the plans, Britain would provide surface-to-surface missiles for Ukrainian patrol boats and missiles for aircraft as the nations increase co-operation after Brexit.
The Ministry of Defence is discussing the sale of surface-to-surface maritime Brimstone missiles designed by MBDA UK that can hit “swarms” of targets simultaneously and would be deployed on vessels that the Ukrainian navy has in service. MBDA UK international consortium is based in France,however, manufacturing and design also takes place in Britain.
A Ukrainian defence source told the newspaper the missile sale would represent the first time that Britain had sold weapons to the eastern European country.
The proposed deal comes amid concerns that Russia could exploit the gas crisis shortage to seize more Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine currently acts as a transit for Russia’s gas pipeline but if the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in the Baltic Sea becomes operational, President Putin will no longer be reliant on Kyiv to supply gas to Europe, putting the country at risk of further hostile Russian action.
According to the agreement, if concluded, military aircraft and ships of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be equipped with the surface-to-surface maritime Brimstone missiles. The cost of one unit of such weapons is about 138,000 dollars. Noteworthy, such missiles were used by the British army during its military operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Syria.