(Reuters) – Ukrainian President Zelenskiy said his government was expecting “strong decisions” from defence leaders of NATO and other countries meeting on Friday to discuss boosting Ukraine’s ability to confront Russian forces with modern battle tanks.
WEAPONRY
* Opening the meeting at the Ramstein military base in Germany, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin called on countries to “dig deeper” in their support for Ukraine, saying now was not the time to slow down.
* Germany’s new Defence Minister said he did not know of any requirement that Ukraine receive U.S. and German tanks simultaneously. The government has not so far authorised the export of German-made Leopard tanks, with sources saying Berlin would move if Washington agreed to send Abrams tanks.
* Poland and Finland have already said they will send Leopard tanks to Ukraine if Germany gives approval for export.
* Finland announced on Friday a new donation of more than 400 million euros ($434 million) worth of defence equipment for Ukraine, not including Leopard 2 heavy tanks which it said it could also send if there is an agreement with allies.
* The United States Defense Department announced new military assistance for Ukraine valued at up to $2.5 billion, including armoured vehicles and support for Ukraine’s air defence. The aid includes 59 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers, but not Abrams tanks.
* A group of 11 NATO countries, including Britain and Poland, pledged a raft of new military aid to support Ukraine.
* A Canadian company supplying battle-ready armoured vehicles to Ukraine plans to deliver the 200 vehicles Ottawa promised to Kyiv before summer, the firm’s chief executive said.
* The Netherlands is finalising plans to provide Patriot air missile defence systems to Ukraine with Germany and the United States and will announce further military support on Friday, the defence minister said.
DIPLOMACY
* The director of the CIA travelled in secret to Kyiv at the end of last week to meet Zelenskiy, the Washington Post reported, citing a U.S. official and other sources. Burns briefed Zelenskiy on his expectations on Russia’s military plans, the report said.
* Russia’s foreign ministry said it would ban 31 New Zealand citizens, including journalists, a former defence minister and an international relations professor, from entering the country for promoting an “anti-Russian agenda” and supporting Ukraine.
* The White House national security adviser discussed the war with Israel’s leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken about reviewing Israeli policy on the war, but has stopped short of pledging any direct supply of arms to Ukraine.
* The president of the European Council declared during a visit to Kyiv that “we must spare no effort” in helping Ukraine join the 27-member group. Brussels granted Kyiv membership candidate status last June, months after Russian invaded in February.
* The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said he worried the world was becoming complacent about the considerable dangers posed by the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia atomic plant in southern Ukraine.
(Compiled by Grant McCool)
