Around the latest military aid packages announced in recent days by Canada, Finland, and Norway, which include spare parts and gear for F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems, a new commitment to Kyiv arrived on Thursday in the form of drones. The United Kingdom and Latvia have confirmed the creation of a new coalition to deliver one million drones to Ukraine, including, according to the British government, FPV drones that are highly effective on the battlefield, especially when ammunition runs low.
“The United Kingdom will keep doing everything it can to give Ukraine what it needs, boosting our assistance to 2.5 billion pounds this year and dedicating 200 million pounds to unmanned aircraft production, making us the largest supplier of these devices to Ukraine. Today we go even further. The United Kingdom and Latvia will co-lead an international coalition to build the crucial drone capabilities for Ukraine,” announced British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps during the margins of NATO’s defense ministers’ meeting and the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Brussels. There, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg again emphasized increased defense spending by allies and the need to produce more munitions to support Ukraine.
The aim is to strengthen Kyiv’s ability to repel Russian attacks by providing operators with situational awareness and targeting information to engage enemy positions, armored vehicles, and vessels carrying explosive devices. It is anticipated that other allied nations will join this coalition. This includes the Netherlands, as confirmed by its defense minister Kasja Ollongren. “The Netherlands will contribute high-tech know-how from the civilian sector,” Ollongren told Reuters, though she did not disclose technical or financial details of the operation.
Cresting the F-16 and Mine-Clearing Coalitions
Precisely the Netherlands, together with Denmark, also forms part of the coalition launched last year to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets. The Dutch government pledged to deliver 18 aircraft last year, later increasing that figure to 24 in early February. Denmark has promised 19 aircraft. “There is no silver bullet that will dramatically change the situation, but trained, well-equipped, and properly maintained crews will considerably expand Ukraine’s combat effectiveness,” Stoltenberg noted.
In addition, a third coalition focused on mine clearance involves 20 NATO countries. “All of this will help save Ukrainian lives,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday, underscoring that 99 percent of military aid to Ukraine is provided by allied nations. He also highlighted the ongoing transatlantic effort: since the invasion, the United States has delivered roughly 75 billion dollars in military, financial, and humanitarian aid, while other NATO allies and partners have contributed more than 100 billion dollars, demonstrating a genuine shared burden across the Atlantic. The Ukrainian defense minister, Rustem Umerov, took part in the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting to report on the battlefield situation.
Beyond material support, the allied leaders confirmed an agreement to establish a joint NATO-Ukraine analysis and training center in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Details are still being defined, but the center will serve as a venue for Ukrainian forces to learn and train alongside allied counterparts, enabling them to apply lessons learned from the ongoing conflict with Russia in Ukraine.
In sum, the coalition efforts extend beyond weapons and equipment. They aim to sharpen Ukrainian command, control, and battlefield awareness; to elevate drone and unmanned systems capabilities; and to create structured opportunities for shared instruction and operational experience. The overarching goal remains to bolster Kyiv’s defenses and protect civilian lives as the war continues to unfold across the region.