Ukraine backers gather as war escalates, air defense runs low

Ukraine is hosting a meeting of its key European supporters today to demand critical air-defense supplies and increased pressure on Russia. Russian attacks have killed more civilians than at any time since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. The meeting, chaired by the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany, comes amid the latest escalation of the war, with Russia bombing Kyiv with ballistic missiles, destroying buildings and killing dozens of citizens.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pleading for more air-defense support after each attack, as civilians seek refuge in metro systems, basements, and shelters across the city. Ahead of the meeting, Ukraine has targeted Russian logistics sites, hitting warehouses of e-commerce giant Ozon, leading to fires in Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Adygeysk, and Nevinnomyssk.

Russian authorities reported that debris from a Ukrainian drone attack killed two children and injured nine others. Ukraine is marking the four-and-a-half-year anniversary of Russia's invasion today. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, making his first international trip since taking office, will announce that the British government is authorizing defence firm MBDA to release classified information to aid Ukraine and France in producing long-range SCALP missiles.

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to deliver new interceptor missiles. The ballistic missiles Russia has been firing are incredibly fast, making them difficult to stop, leaving Ukraine reliant on advanced systems like US Patriot interceptors. However, Ukraine has faced shortages globally since the US launched its war on Iran, resulting in a significant drop in deliveries of Patriot interceptors.

Mr Zelensky revealed that Ukraine received only 264 missiles in 2025, down from 675 in 2023, despite Russian missile strikes increasing. Ukraine is seeking a package of at least 300 missiles for the upcoming winter. Russia is producing around 100 ballistic missiles a month.