Talks on Ukraine aid held after Trump urges Europe to act

British Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius will lead the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, are expected to join the discussion.

The talks come amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, with Ukrainian officials reporting around 300 drone strikes on Saturday alone. Analysts warn that such assaults are likely to escalate further.

In a shift of tone last week, President Trump gave Russia a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire or face harsher sanctions.

Under Trump’s new arms plan, European nations will send U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine via NATO—either from their current stockpiles or by purchasing and donating new equipment. A key focus is on advanced Patriot air defense systems. Although Trump said deliveries would begin “within days,” officials last week indicated that transfers had not yet started.

Gen. Grynkewich told the Associated Press on Thursday that “preparations are underway,” while U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said he could not confirm a timeline.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany would finance two new Patriot systems for Ukraine and may supply additional systems from its own inventory, to be replaced by the U.S. However, he noted delivery could take “days, perhaps weeks.”

Switzerland may also contribute, as its defence ministry said five previously ordered Patriot systems would be reprioritized for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, NATO continues coordinating other military aid, including artillery and ammunition, some of which had been briefly paused.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said peace talks were proposed this week, with Istanbul likely as host. Russia has yet to set a date but remains open to negotiations, reports UNB.