Ukraine weapons: What arms are the US, UK and other nations supplying?
- Published
US officials say President Biden has given Ukraine permission to fire long-range ATACMS missiles into Russian territory.
It is thought that the UK and France could follow suit by saying that Storm Shadow missiles can also be used against targets inside Russia.
Western nations have now donated more than $100bn (£79bn) of military aid to Ukraine.
Who has supplied the most military aid?
The US has been the biggest source of military aid to Ukraine, including weapons, equipment and financial assistance.
Between February 2022 and the end of August 2024, it gave $61.1bn (£48.4bn), according to German think tank the Kiel Institute, external.
Germany has given $11.4bn (£9bn) in military aid, the UK $10.1bn (£8bn), Denmark $7bn (£5.6bn), and the Netherlands $5.5bn (£4.4bn).
However, the Kiel Institute warns there could be a "significant fall" in aid to Ukraine in 2025, external, suggesting that President Trump could cut the US contribution when he returns to the White House in January.
Germany is expected to cut its military aid to Ukraine in 2025 by roughly half.
What weapons have Western countries given Ukraine?
Missiles and artillery
Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have used artillery and guided missiles extensively, to prevent enemy forces advancing and to attack supply depots and command centres.
Ukraine has been using US-made ATACMS missiles against Russian forces inside Ukraine. These missiles have a range of about 190 miles (300km). It had not been allowed to fire them into Russian territory, for fear that doing so might drag the US and other Nato countries into the war.
However, US officials say President Biden has lifted the ban, allowing ATACMS to be used to help Ukraine defend territory it occupies in the Russian Kursk region.
The UK and France have supplied Ukraine with Storm Shadow or Scalp missiles, which have a maximum range of around 155 miles (250km).
Both countries have banned Ukrainian forces from firing them into Russia, although Ukraine has also long asked to be allowed to do so.
Ukraine's allies have also sent it more than 80 multiple-launch rocket systems,, external according to the Kiel Institute.
These include the Himars system from the US and the M270 missile system from the UK.
The Kiel Institute says they have also sent more than 500 field guns, including the M777 howitzer from the US.
However, Russia has an advantage on the battlefield because its supply of artillery shells has been much greater than Ukraine's, external, according to the UK-based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
Fighter jets
At the end of July, Ukraine's President Zelensky said its air force had taken delivery of the first batch of F-16 fighter jets from the West. He said many more were needed.
Nato countries, including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, have pledged to give Ukraine 65 or more of the US-made planes, which they had been planning to retire from their air forces.
In August 2023, the US gave permission for F-16s to be sent to Ukraine. Since then, Western nations have been training Ukrainian pilots to fly them.
Phillips O'Brien, Professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrews University says: "Ukraine will be using the F-16s mostly for defence against air attacks."
The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies says they could eventually be given extra roles, external, such as attacking Russian air defence systems, command centres and supply depots, and engaging Russian aircraft in Ukrainian airspace.
Air defence systems
To counter Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's cities and infrastructure, Western nations have sent it several types of air defence system.
These range from the UK's short-range anti-aircraft weapon, Starstreak, to the Patriot missile system.
Patriots are expensive to operate - one missile costs about $3m.
The US and Norway have also provided the Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) for air defence, and Germany has offered the Iris-T.
Munitions
In July 2023, the US said it had supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine to help dislodge Russian troops from defensive positions.
These weapons, delivered mostly in artillery shells, scatter multiple bomblets, and are banned by more than 100 countries because of the risk they pose to civilians.
Tanks
In early 2023, Western nations agreed to send tanks to Ukraine. It was hoped they would enable its forces to breach Russian defensive lines in a counter-offensive.
The UK provided 14 Challenger 2s.
European nations have sent more than 200 German-made Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks, according to figures from the Kiel Institute, external.
The US sent 31 of its M1 Abrams tanks, which are thought to be the most advanced in the world.
Anti-tank weapons
Western countries first responded to Russia's invasion in February 2022 by supplying Ukraine with defensive weapons to counter the enemy's armoured brigades.
The US and UK supplied thousands of Javelin and Nlaw anti-tank missiles. These were considered crucial in stopping the advance of Russian forces on Kyiv.
Drones
Drones have been used extensively throughout the war, for surveillance, targeting, launching missiles and as "kamikaze" weapons.
Turkey supplied missile-firing Bayraktar TB2 drones at the start of the conflict, the US has provided "Switchblade" kamikaze drones, and several countries have sent commercial surveillance drones, such as the Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3.
In February 2024, the UK government said it would join a coalition of countries supplying Ukraine with thousands of "first person view" drones, external, for observation and target spotting.