Ukraine: US and European countries pledge heavy weapons

BBC News:

More countries have answered President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call to send further arms to Ukraine.

The US says a package worth $2.5bn (£2bn) will be sent, including armoured vehicles and air defence systems.

Several European nations promised their own new packages – including hundreds of missiles pledged to Kyiv by the UK.

The announcements come ahead of a crunch meeting scheduled in Germany on Friday, in which 50 countries are set to co-ordinate arms supplies.

A meeting on Thursday saw representatives from 11 nations gather at an army base in Estonia to discuss a range of new packages to help Ukraine recapture territory and fend off any further Russian advances.

Nine countries – the UK, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, the Netherlands and Slovakia – promised more support.

The packages announced in a joint statement include: