Weekly Defence Rundown 18th – 24th August 2025

Last week was particularly busy in international relations and geopolitical affairs, with the high-profile summit in Washington between the US, Ukraine, and European leaders coming days after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska. While many feared what the fallout would be from a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy following the infamous Oval Office dispute in February, the tone between the two leaders was considerably warmer. However, not only was no ceasefire agreed from either summit, but Trump seems to have dismissed the idea that a ceasefire is altogether needed before negotiations for a full peace deal begin – something that will likely benefit Putin more than Zelenskyy given Trump’s pressure for the war to end.

Following these talks, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, travelled to Washington to get further details about the level of support the US would commit to security guarantees for Ukraine.

On the domestic front, it has been announced that the UK Space Agency will be scrapped as an independent organisation. In an effort to save money, cut bureaucracy and duplication, and ensure ministerial oversight, the Agency will be absorbed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in April 2026.

Defence Brief: Key Insights from the Week        

• Trump’s 10pc mark-up on arms sales to Europe may fund Ukraine security guarantees (The Telegraph)
• Britain warned it needs huge increase in storage facilities (The Times)
• SNP blocked cash for submarines despite role in delivering aid (The Times)
• EU will make UK pay to join €150bn defence fund (Financial Times)

Industry Latest:

• Britain to turn Warrior armoured vehicles into drones (UK Defence Journal)
• Britain buys new air defence missile systems (UK Defence Journal)
• Cook Defence Systems £125m deal to keep combat vehicles on track (Army Technology)
• MyDefence sets out its C-UAS offering for the UK (Calibre Defence)
• US Army says e-commerce-like marketplace for tactical radio capabilities in the works (Breaking Defense)
• Ukraine’s Defence Procurement Agency names FPV suppliers via new online marketplace (Janes)

Direct from Government:

• British training of Ukrainian troops extended through 2026 as UK marks Ukrainian Independence Day (MoD Press Release)
• UK jobs and air defences boost with purchase of new missile launchers (MoD Press Release)
• ‘30 by 30’ – New funding to boost cadet force by over 40,000 by 2030 (MoD Press Release)
• New multi-million pound Army support deal for North-East firm to boost national security and growth (MoD Press Release)

News from Further Afar:

• Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz accused Russia of provoking NATO after a Russian military drone crashed into eastern Poland (Politico)
• Also on NATO’s eastern flank, Lithuania has outlined plans for a 30-mile line of defences along its borders with Russia and Belarus. Fortifications include minefields and bridges primed for demolition in the event of an invasion (The Times)
• In the fallout from the summits in Alaska and Washington, President Trump has announced his intention for a bilateral summit to take place between Putin and Zelenskyy before convening a trilateral summit involving the US. While Putin agreed to the principal of bilateral talks, he has since been reluctant to commit to a time and place for a one-on-one with Zelenskyy (Al Jazeera)
• Similarly, following talks with Trump, Ukraine has proposed a deal to buy $100bn of American weapons financed by Europe in order to secure US guarantees for its security. The proposal also includes a $50bn deal to produce drones with Ukrainian companies, who have pioneered the use of this technology on the battlefield (Financial Times)
• Taiwan has outlined plans to raise its defence spending by 23% next year to showcase to the US its determination to strengthen its position against threats from China. If approved by Parliament, this would increase Taiwan’s defence spending to 3.3% of GDP (Financial Times)

CMS Podcast of the Week:

The Culture Colonel | The Future of Defence Starts Here – with Kaylee Mcisaac, Richard Hamer & Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Jon Pentreath

Coming Up This Week:

In the wake of last week’s summit in Washington, it is expected for more details to emerge over the next few days on what security guarantees for Ukraine will look like. While efforts are being led by Sir Keir Starmer and French President Macron, attention will focus on the US’ commitment, while non-NATO countries such as Japan have also expressed interest in contributing to a multinational force to oversee a potential peace agreement in Ukraine.

Image: LPhot Bill Spurr and is under UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025

 

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