**UK Announces £1.6bn Missile Deal for Ukraine**
The UK has announced a major missile deal with Ukraine, worth £1.6 billion. This comes after a summit of European leaders in London, where they discussed next steps to secure peace for Ukraine.
**Coalition Formed to Support Peace Efforts**
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that a “coalition of the willing” has been formed, which includes France’s President Emmanuel Macron and other allies who are prepared to commit troops to the Ukrainian frontline in the event of a peace deal. This coalition aims to support Ukraine in its negotiations with Russia.
**Ukrainian President Attends Summit**
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit, where 17 European leaders and Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau discussed ways to secure peace for Ukraine. The Lancaster House summit comes after a televised press conference from the White House, where President Trump told Zelensky that he was not grateful enough for US support.
**UK’s Support for Ukraine**
Sir Keir Starmer said that he feels a personal responsibility to end Russia’s illegal war and guarantee Ukraine “a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security”. He added that national security is economic security, and that the missile deal will make working people in the UK better off by boosting the economy and supporting jobs.
**Missile Deal Details**
The £1.6 billion loan will allow Ukraine to buy more than 5,000 air defence missiles, which will be made in Belfast. This will help protect critical infrastructure in Ukraine and strengthen its ability to negotiate peace with Russia.
**Jobs Creation**
The missile deal is expected to create 200 jobs in Northern Ireland and directly support a further 700 jobs in the UK through the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles (LMMs).
**Government’s Commitment**
Defence Secretary John Healey said that the UK is committed to stepping up military support for Ukraine, while boosting jobs and growth at home. The government has also launched a new hub to provide small and medium enterprises with better access to the defence supply chain.
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