Ukraine’s allies have pledged a record-breaking €21 billion in fresh military assistance

Ukraine’s allies have pledged a record-breaking €21 billion in fresh military assistance as Kyiv faces an intensified Russian assault and mounting delays in ceasefire negotiations, which Western officials blame squarely on the Kremlin.

The announcement came during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting held in Brussels on Friday, co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Germany. The summit was attended by representatives from more than 40 nations, with the notable absence of a physical U.S. delegation. Instead, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined remotely.

British Defense Secretary John Healey directly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of undermining peace efforts. “Despite claims of seeking peace, President Putin rejected a full ceasefire proposed over a month ago. His military continues to target Ukrainian forces and civilians without pause,” Healey stated.

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed similar concerns, describing the war in Ukraine as a defining battle between democracy and authoritarianism. “Ukraine is not just defending its sovereignty. It stands at the heart of a broader conflict—between freedom and oppression, and between global norms and aggressive imperialism,” Pistorius said.

Despite this rhetoric, analysts note that Trump’s team has yet to take any concrete actions to pressure Moscow. Witkoff has even drawn criticism for echoing pro-Kremlin narratives, suggesting occupied Ukrainian regions had “voted” to join Russia.

Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its military campaign. Ukrainian officials report increased aerial bombardments and a significant offensive in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, with several villages near the border now under Russian control.

In a video address to the Brussels conference, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged partners to provide additional Patriot air defense systems. His appeal followed a deadly missile strike on a playground in Krivyi Rih—his hometown—that killed at least 20 people, including nine children.