UK and Germany Lead NATO Talks on Ukraine Arms Amid Russian Strikes

A large-scale Russian aerial attack struck Kyiv overnight, killing two people and injuring at least 15, including a child, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The assault, which damaged civilian infrastructure such as a kindergarten and supermarket, came just hours before a NATO-led meeting on military support for Ukraine.

British Defense Secretary John Healey and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are chairing the virtual session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. The meeting follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that European allies will send American weapons to Ukraine, with a focus on advanced Patriot air defense systems. Trump said last week that deliveries would begin "within days," though officials have indicated that transfers have not yet started.

Germany has offered to finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and is considering supplying systems from its own inventory, pending U.S. replacements. Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that delivery and setup could take days or weeks. Switzerland’s defense ministry also reported that the U.S. will reprioritize five previously ordered Patriot systems to support Ukraine.

NATO officials say coordination continues for additional military aid, including ammunition and artillery rounds, some of which had been temporarily paused. Meanwhile, Ukraine has proposed a new round of peace talks, though no date has been set. The Kremlin stated it remains open to negotiations but emphasized its priorities in the conflict.

The Russian attack on Kyiv involved hundreds of drones and missiles, with Ukraine’s air force reporting the interception or jamming of over 400 drones. In response, Ukraine launched its own drone strikes targeting Moscow, with Russia’s defense ministry claiming to have shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones near the capital.