The Thales missile factory in Belfast is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine, the prime minister has announced. The deal is worth up to £1.6bn and will involve recruiting 200 additional staff.

The new contract, initially valued at £1.16bn with potential extensions up to £500m, will see Thales Northern Ireland working alongside a Ukrainian industry partner.

The DUP leader described the heated Oval Office encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky as ‘appalling’ and ‘destructive’.