The UK government has accelerated £200 million in defence funding to prepare British troops for potential deployment to Ukraine, signalling a major step forward in
multinational security planning as air defence support for Kyiv is intensified.
Announcing the move during a visit to Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the funding will be used this year to ready UK Armed Forces for participation in the Multinational Force for Ukraine (MNFU). The force is intended to underpin long-term security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a future peace agreement.
The investment follows a declaration of intent signed this week in Paris by the leaders of the UK, France and Ukraine, which set out plans for British and French troops to deploy to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached. The UK is expected to play a leading role in the MNFU.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the £200 million will fund upgrades to military vehicles, secure communications systems, counter-drone defences and additional force-protection equipment. The aim is to ensure British troops are fully prepared to deploy at short notice if required.
The funding comes from the core defence budget and is intended to send what officials describe as a clear signal to both allies and adversaries of the UK’s commitment to European security and to securing a lasting peace in Ukraine.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “As we approach the fifth year of Putin’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage – civilians and military alike.
We are surging investment into our preparations following the Prime Minister’s announcement this week, ensuring that Britain’s Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the Multinational Force Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure UK.
As we look towards a potential peace deal, we continue to step up for Ukraine in the fight today – strengthening its air defences while backing British industry, jobs and innovation at home”.
Alongside preparations for a potential peacekeeping role, the UK is also expanding its immediate military support to Ukraine, particularly in air defence. During meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, Mr Healey confirmed that production of British-built Octopus interceptor drones will begin this month.
The drones, developed by Ukrainian engineers and refined by UK industry, are designed to intercept Shahed-style attack drones before they reach civilian targets such as homes, hospitals and power infrastructure. Using real-time battlefield data, the system is regularly updated to counter evolving Russian tactics.
Officials say the Octopus drones are low-cost, quick to manufacture and suitable for mass production. Each interceptor costs less than 10 per cent of the drone it is designed to destroy, offering Ukraine a more sustainable way to defend its airspace at scale.
The UK plans to produce thousands of the drones each month and send them to Ukraine as part of a wider £600 million investment in Ukrainian air defence this year. That funding sits within a broader £4.5 billion package of UK military support for 2024.
Under the UK–Ukraine 100-Year Partnership, live data from the battlefield feeds directly into British production lines, allowing rapid design upgrades and faster delivery to the front line. The programme is also expected to support high-skilled jobs across the UK, reinforcing defence manufacturing as a driver of economic growth and technological innovation.
With the MNFU headquarters already operational in Paris, UK officials say the accelerated funding underlines Britain’s intention not only to support Ukraine in the fight today, but also to shape the security architecture of Europe in the years ahead. Photo by Londoneye, Wikimedia commons.