**Europe Pledges €21 Billion in Military Aid to Ukraine**
In a major show of support for Ukraine, Europe’s defence ministers have pledged €21 billion ($24 billion; £18 billion) in military aid to Kyiv. This new tranche of assistance comes as the continent’s leaders described this year as “critical” for the war.
The bulk of this aid – €11 billion over four years – is coming from Germany, with Britain and Norway also contributing significantly. The UK has pledged an additional £450 million ($590 million) to fund radar systems, anti-tank mines, vehicle repairs, and hundreds of thousands of drones for Ukraine. This money is part of a larger British pledge of £4.5 billion made earlier this year.
**Russia’s Drone Attacks a Priority**
One of the key areas of focus for Europe’s defence ministers was air defence, with many countries pledging to send missiles, radar systems, and other gear to help fill the gap left by the United States under Donald Trump. The UK’s Defence Minister John Healey warned that Russian forces had dropped 10,000 glide bombs on Ukraine in the first three months of this year, as well as launching 100 one-way attack drones a day.
Healey noted that a staggering 70% to 80% of battlefield casualties are now caused and inflicted by drones. “This is a clear sign that Russia is using every tool at its disposal to try and grind down the Ukrainian military,” he said.
**Germany’s Aid Package**
The German aid package has a significant focus on artillery, with Berlin sending 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 25 infantry fighting vehicles, 15 battle tanks, 100 ground surveillance radars, and 120 Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. Germany will also send four IRIS-T air defence systems with 300 missiles to Kyiv.
Boris Pistorius, the German Defence Minister, said that Ukraine needs a strong military in order for the negotiation process to lead to a just and lasting peace. “We must not forget that this war is still ongoing, and we must continue to support Ukraine until it is over,” he said.
**US Involvement**
The United States was represented at the gathering of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who joined remotely. Hegseth’s decision to attend was seen as a sign that America remains committed to supporting Ukraine.
However, Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration with the slow pace of American involvement in negotiations. Kyiv’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov accused Russia of dragging its feet over a ceasefire and said that it had been more than a month since Russia rejected a US-backed peace settlement.
**Talks Continue**
Despite the challenges ahead, talks between Ukraine and Russia continue. US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Friday to press the Kremlin to accept a truce. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no breakthroughs were expected from these talks.
On the ground in Ukraine, Russian forces have reportedly captured the village of Zhuravka, in Ukraine’s northern border region of Sumy. Ukrainian officials are yet to confirm this. President Zelensky has warned that up to 67,000 Russian soldiers are positioned north of the border of the Sumy region, preparing for an attack on the city of Sumy.
**A Critical Year Ahead**
As Europe’s defence ministers gathered in Brussels, they made it clear that this year will be critical for Ukraine. With the war ongoing and no sign of a ceasefire in sight, the continent’s leaders are determined to provide all necessary support to Kyiv.
“This is not just about providing aid, it’s about standing up for what’s right,” said John Healey. “We must not let Russia get away with its aggression.”