LONDON, March 31 - Longer range artillery and armored vehicles will be sent to Ukraine in a significant ramping up of Western support, Ben Wallace announced on Thursday, The Telegraph reported.

The Defense Secretary confirmed that Britain and its allies would send more lethal aid after he convened an international donor conference.

The aid will include the provision of air and coastal defense systems, longer-range artillery and counter battery weapons, armored vehicles as well as more training and logistical support.

“First of all Ukraine needs longer-range artillery and that’s because of what the Russian army has been doing – it has been now digging in and starting to pound these cities with artilleries,” Wallace said.

“The best counter to that is other long-range artillery, so they will be looking for and getting more long-range artillery, ammunition predominantly.”

Boris Johnson was said to have personally pushed for armored vehicles to be sent. Britain has been leading the way in calls for more lethal aid to Ukraine.

Whitehall sources have expressed concern that allies including the US, France and Germany are "over-eager" to secure an early peace deal and are pushing Ukraine to "settle".

It came as a Ministry of Defense chief suggested Britain needs a national effort to boost its nuclear weapons program.

While more than 30 international partners will pitch in with the latest donations, The Telegraph understands that the UK will send so-called loitering munitions such as drones, and will “lift and shift” other donations.

Prof Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director general at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Telegraph such kit would be “especially useful for Ukrainian counter offensive operations” against already retreating Russians.

“This is a significant step up in both quantitative and qualitative terms,” he added. “The provision of longer range artillery and armored vehicles could be of significant benefit to Ukrainian forces.” (tt/ez)