Nato allies set to provide Ukraine ‘heavier weapons’ as Putin vows victory for Russia
- Nato partners to meet Friday in Germany to discuss arming Ukraine against Russia
- President Vladimir Putin said Russian ‘victory is assured, I have no doubt about it’
Nato countries are set to announce new heavier weapons for Ukraine, the alliance’s chief said, as President Vladimir Putin vowed an “inevitable” victory for Russia.
Putin, visiting an air defence factory in St Petersburg on Wednesday, said Russia’s military industrial might meant “victory is assured, I have no doubt about it”.
Putin’s comments came as top military leaders from around the world prepared to gather in Germany to discuss how to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia.
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin will convene a meeting of around 50 countries on Friday at the US-run Ramstein military base in Germany, including all 30 members of the Nato alliance.
“The main message there (in Ramstein) will be more support and more advanced support, heavier weapons, and more modern weapons, because this is a fight for our values,” Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.
Many of Ukraine’s allies have announced plans to step up their military support to Kyiv this month despite the risk of antagonising Russia, notably Britain, which became the first Western nation to pledge heavy tanks on Saturday.