Ukraine and UK agreed on US$3.6bn in annual military aid for Kyiv

Ukraine and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement for annual military aid worth $3.6 billion to support Kyiv's defense against Russian aggression.

During a joint press conference on January 16, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the long-term commitment. Zelenskyy also noted plans for an additional $3 billion from proceeds generated by frozen Russian assets, potentially raising the total support from the UK to $6.6 billion this financial year.

This agreement reflects the UK’s steadfast alliance with Ukraine and its dedication to bolstering Ukraine's military capabilities for as long as necessary.

The war in 2024 cost $100 billion - Zelensky

In 2024, Ukraine's defense expenditures amounted to $100 billion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a joint press conference with the UK Prime Minister in Kyiv on January 16.

The total budget was allocated as follows:

• $40 billion was funded by Ukraine,
• $35 billion came from the United States,
• $25 billion was provided by European allies.

Zelenskyy highlighted that the war in 2024 required significant financial contributions from all partners. He emphasized the strength of the coalition supporting Ukraine and the critical importance of international aid, stating that financial support complements Ukraine's most valuable resource: its people.

These figures underscore the scale of global support for Ukraine and the solidarity of its allies in the fight for freedom and independence.

Three people injured in Russian attack on Kharkiv

On January 16, a Russian military drone strike injured three people in Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi district.

The drone crashed onto a road, damaging four cars. Preliminary reports suggest the attack was carried out using a Molniya UAV.

Ukraine demands that Russia allow the Red Cross to visit all Ukrainian prisoners of war

During a quadripartite meeting, Ukrainian Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets urged Russia to grant International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives access to all Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs).

Lubinets emphasized the importance of ICRC access to ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions and fulfill its mandate.

The meeting, initiated by Ukraine, included Tatyana Moskalkova, the Russian Human Rights Commissioner; Jürg Eglin, Head of the ICRC delegation in Ukraine; and Boris Michel, Head of the ICRC delegations in Russia and Belarus.

Discussions also focused on forming mixed medical commissions to assess POWs' health conditions and determine priorities for exchanges. The participants agreed to continue exchanging information on missing POWs and the release of detained civilians.