Russian assault continues as Europe meets to decide on Ukraine ammo supply

Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, only hours before the UK and Germany are to chair a meeting to discuss US President Donald Trump’s plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with weapons.

The attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said.

The virtual meeting will be led by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO chief Mark Rutte, as well as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, Gen Alexus Grynkewich, will attend the meeting of

the Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

Moscow has intensified its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and analysts say the barrages are likely to escalate as Russian drone production expands.

At Monday’s meeting, British defence chief John Healey was expected to urge Ukraine’s Western partners to launch a coincidental “50-day drive” to get Kyiv the weapons it needs to fight Russia’s bigger army and force Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, the UK government said in a statement.

Trump’s arms plan, announced a week ago, involves European nations sending American weapons to Ukraine via NATO — either from existing stockpiles or buying and donating new ones. The US indicated discussions were partly focused on advanced Patriot air defence systems.