UK Defense Secretary John Healey (2nd from L), Ukraine Defense Secretary Rustem Umerov (2nd from R), and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (R) at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Support Group (File)

Thursday’s Coverage: Europe Gathers to Support Kyiv

UPDATE 1941 GMT:

Talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoy, real estate developer Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg concluded late Friday after more than four hours.

UPDATE 1407 GMT:

Six countries have committed to deployment of troops in Ukraine if Russia’s invasion is halted, report European officials.

The UK; France; the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania, and Latvia; and an unnamed country are ready to send military personnel.

However, other leaders want to see a more detailed plan before making commitments.

Bloomberg reported earlier this week that 15 nations are open to sending troops.

UPDATE 1157 GMT:

At a press conference after the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, German Foreign Minister Boris Pistorius has said Russia “is still not yet interested in peace”.

Noting that Moscow is “continuing its attacks against Ukraine”, Pistorius said, “Ukraine needs a strong military, and only then can the negotiation process lead to a just and lasting peace.”

He summarized:

Given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must concede peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future.

We will ensure that Ukraine continues to benefit from our joint military support. Russia needs to understand that Ukraine is able to go on fighting, and we will support it.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey reported more than €21 billion ($23.87 billion) in new military aid commitments from attendees, including £4.5 billion ($5.9 billion) from the UK this year.

UPDATE 1138 GMT:

Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has thanked Germany for its commitment of another €11 billion ($12.5 billion) in military aid to Ukraine up to 2029.

Umerov also expressed gratitude to the UK for £450 million ($589 million) in new assistance from Britain and Norway.

UPDATE 0821 GMT:

At least two civilians have been killed and 32 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses downed 24 of 39 drones and a ballistic missile. Another 13 drones were lost to electronic counter-measures.

In the Dnipropetrovsk region in south-central Ukraine, one person was killed and 22 injured. The fatality and nine of the wounded were from a Russian missile strike on Dnipro.

In the Kherson region in the south, one civilian was slain and five injured, asthree apartment buildings and 16 houses were damaged.

Other casualties were reported in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

UPDATE 0802 GMT:

Arriving at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group summit in Brussels, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced more military aid for Kyiv.

Germany is sending another four IRIS-T surface-to-air defense systems with missiles, and another 30 missiles for US-made Patriot systems.

Pistorisu said the summit will discuss Ukraine’s request to produce missiles locally on license.

Asked about plans for a “reassurance force” with European troops in Ukraine, but the Defense Secretary said he “would rather not discuss issues like that in the marketplaces of the world”.

“We will find a way to go where we have to go, but up [until] then, we should rather discuss that internally than publicly,” he explained.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur broadly backed the idea of the reassurance force in Ukraine, but said this must not be at the expense of the security of NATO’s eastern flank:v“We need to see that, you know, that we will not fall into any kind of trap.”

The European Union’s Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian Prime Minister, Kallas says she still did not have clarity about what the deployment would involve.

“Different member states, like I said, have different opinions, and the discussions are still ongoing,” she told repoters.

She urged the Trump Administration to press Russia to end its invasion:

We are already four weeks into the time when Ukraine agreed to unconditional ceasefire, and we haven’t seen any positive signs on the Russian side.

So we really need to put the pressure on Russia.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: European allies of Ukraine have announced further support as they convene in Brussels on Friday to discuss the ongoing resistance of Russia’s 37 1/2-month invasion.

The UK and Germany will host a meeting of 50 nations at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels on Friday. The gathering is the 27th of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group — also known as the Ramstein Group, after its creation at the US base in Ramstein, Germany — which coordinate assistance among around 50 of Kyiv’s allies, who have provided $126 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey and German counterpart Defense Minister Boris Pistorius are stepping up as co-chairs after the effective withdrawal of the Trump Administration from the Group.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin oversaw the launch of the Group soon after Russia’s invasion in 2022 and chaired all of its session. But as the Trump Administration retreated from support of Ukraine’s resistance, it made no commitment to the organization.

The Administration had indicated that current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would skip the gathering. American and European officials said on Wednesday that Hegseth will join by video conference.

The European officials said Hegseth joining online is a better option than his complete absence, but they still prefer him attending in person.

On Thursday, the UK announced another £450 million ($580 million) in British-led assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s position during negotiations for a halt to Russia’s invasion.

London will provide £350 million, with Norway contributing further funding. The aid will enable radar systems, anti-tank mines, hundreds of thousands of drones, and repairs and maintenance of vehicles and equipment.

Defence Secretary Healey pressed counterparts to advance plans to deploy troops to Ukraine under any ceasefire agreement. Officials said the UK is considering the deployment of personnel for five years.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has also appealed for bolstered air defenses against Russia’s deadly missile and drone attacks. He said on Wednesday night:

We have repeatedly raised this issue with the American side and with everyone in Europe who is in a position to help. We are counting on decisions….

Right now, the world lacks not the systems themselves – but only the political decisions needed to protect lives.