UPDATE - UK, Baltic and European countries pledge more military aid to Ukraine

UPDATES WITH TALLINN PLEDGE, MILITARY AID PLEDGES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES; ADDS REMARKS BY DEFENSE MINISTERS OF LITHUANIA, ESTONIA; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; EDITS THROUGH

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UK, along with Baltic and European countries, on Thursday pledged more military aid to Ukraine ahead of a meeting scheduled for Friday in Ramstein, Germany.

In a joint news conference at the Tapa Army Base in Estonia, where an international meeting convened, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said his country plans to send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine to support the country's fight against Russia.

"I can say we're also going to send another 600 Brimstone missiles into theatre which will be incredibly important in helping Ukraine dominate the battlefield," Wallace said.

He added that his country is committed to giving Ukraine a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks, as well as at least three batteries of AS-90155 long-range deep-fire artillery, and a number of armored vehicles, including the Bulldog.

"We'll plan for this year, and next year, and the years beyond," the secretary said about the European countries' support to Ukraine, and added: "We're here for the long haul."

He underlined that 2023 is about showing Russian President Vladimir Putin that the international community is determined "more than ever" to stand by Ukraine.

For his part, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said: "In challenging times, we need allies who are ready to take up a leadership role."

Pevkur recalled that the Estonian government decided to support Kyiv for a total of €113 million ($121.9 million) which consists of tens of howitzers, thousands of rounds artillery ammunition, support vehicles for artillery units, and hundreds of Carl-Gustaf M2 anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said his country allocated €4 million for the training of 1,500 Ukrainian soldiers this year, and that it will provide another €30 million for the Ukrainian army, including aircraft weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.

- 11 countries sign Tallinn Pledge

The representatives of 11 participating countries, including Estonia, the UK, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain, also issued the Tallinn Pledge, a joint declaration, on Thursday.

"We recognize that equipping Ukraine to push Russia out of its territory is as important as equipping them to defend what they already have," the declaration said. "Together we will continue supporting Ukraine to move from resisting to expelling Russian forces from Ukrainian soil."

"This substantial assistance to Ukraine comes from our own national stocks, and resources illustrating the mutual understanding of the severity of the situation and our commitment to urgently increase and accelerate support for Ukraine," it added.

The 11 participants will be heading to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday.