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It comes as the Kremlin suggests Putin and Trump may meet in September
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Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine hours after Kyiv was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight.
Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Monday, UK defence secretary John Healey said Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of “maximum opportunity” to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war. He called on the UK and other allies to use Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a “50-day drive” to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks.
Politico reported London and Berlin confirmed that Germany will spend €170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv.
The announcement comes only hours after Russia unleashed one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, launching 450 drones and missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force.
The hours-long attack killed two people and wounded 15, including a 12-year-old, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The heaviest strikes hit Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, where a kindergarten, supermarket and warehouse facilities caught fire. In Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, a drone struck the entrance to a subway station where people had taken cover.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Vladimir Putin would visit Beijing for events to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in September, and said there could be a meeting with Donald Trump if he is there too.
The Netherlands will make a “substantial contribution” to the delivery of US Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Monday, quoting Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans following consultations with other countries supporting Ukraine.
De Telegraaf added that what exactly the Netherlands will do remained unclear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed over a dozen new ambassadors on Monday, during a big shakeup that has seen him replace top cabinet officials and envoys to shore up relations with Washington and isolate Russia internationally.
The new envoys named on Monday include ambassadors to NATO members Belgium, Canada, Estonia and Spain, as well as major donor Japan and regional heavyweights South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Zelensky launched a major government reshuffle last week, promoting Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, who had served as economy minister and is well known in Washington, to head the cabinet as prime minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna is set to become Ukraine’s new envoy to the United States, as Ukraine seeks to mend ties with the Trump administration.
In remarks to the diplomatic corps released by his office, Zelensky said envoys needed to support “everything that causes Russia pain for its war”.
“While the content of our relationship with America has transformed following the change in administration, the goal remains unchanged: Ukraine must withstand Russia’s strikes,” Zelensky said.
Russian forces have launched fresh airstrikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Konstantinivka, damaging residential buildings and warehouses but causing no casualties, local officials have said.
Sergii Horbunov, head of the city’s military administration, said two FAB-250 bombs were dropped on the city on Monday, striking at least eight sites, including warehouse premises, private homes and a car.
“Fortunately, there are no victims among the civilian population,” Mr Horbunov said, describing the attack as “another example of targeted terror against civilians.”
He also urged residents still living near the front lines to evacuate if possible, warning of ongoing danger from further strikes.
Europe has promised more air defence systems and ammunition for Ukraine hours after Kyiv was hit by another barrage of Russian drones and missiles overnight.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), Politico reported the German defence minister Boris Pistorius said: “Together we have to stop this war machine by joining forces to support Ukraine with all our might. First and foremost, this requires us to urgently bolster Ukrainian air defense.”
Germany will spend €170 million in UK-led procurement of air defence ammunition for Kyiv, London and Berlin confirmed on Monday, according to the publication.
Ukraine and its allies stand at a moment of “maximum opportunity” to bolster Kyiv for negotiations to end the war, John Healey has said.
The Defence Secretary said the UK and other allies must use Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin to start a “50-day drive” to arm Ukraine ahead of any talks, to strengthen its hand against Russia.
Speaking at the 29th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), Mr Healey told allies gathered from 52 nations: “This is a moment of maximum opportunity.
“Last week, President Trump announced a new plan for large scale Nato weapons transfers, and committed to getting these, he said, quickly distributed to the battlefield.
“The UK backs this policy. We will play our full part in its success.”
Mr Healey added: “Alongside this new agreement to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, President Trump also started the clock on a 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to peace or to face crippling economic sanctions.
“And as members of this UDCG, we need to step up, in turn, a 50-day drive to arm Ukraine on the battlefield and to help push Putin to the negotiating table.”
Poland is preparing a manual on how to cope in case of war or natural disaster, officials have said.
The 40-page pamphlet, titled “Safety guide”, gives advice on getting clean water, responding to air raids or blackouts and locating bomb shelters, as part of the first public awareness campaign of its kind in Poland in decades.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has repeatedly warned that the threat of a global war is serious and real, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and allegations of Russian sabotage, disinformation and cyberattacks against the West.
Russia has repeatedly denied that it engages in sabotage or cyberattacks on other countries and says it has no intention of starting a war with Nato.
“Wars are not won on the front lines. The Ukrainian example shows it very clearly,” said Robert Klonowski, Polish interior ministry deputy director.
The booklet warns that during a crisis, supplies of food, medicine, and gasoline could run short, the government said.
The booklet, which will be released online in September in Polish, will later be translated into English and Ukrainian, with plans to produce a Braille and children’s version, the ministry added.
The ministry plans to deliver printed copies to all 14 million households in Poland.
Russia has launched fresh aerial strikes on Ukraine overnight, killing two people and injuring several others.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 426 drones and 24 missiles overnight, bringing the total number of strikes on the country this month to 5,402.
In response, president Volodymyr Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to scale up production of air defence systems and interceptor drones to help protect against future attacks.
Russia’s aerial attack on Ukraine is the latest in a streak of record-breaking aerial attacks over the past two months. Below, The Independent looks at how, and why, Russia has decided to target Ukraine’s cities with such devastating force.
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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Europe promises more air defence for Ukraine after Kyiv hit by huge drone strike – The Independent
