Zelensky asks for more weapons amid fresh wave of Russian attacks

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky joined a meeting of his country's international backers in Germany on Sept 6, appealing for additional weapons as Kyiv faces advancing Russian forces in the east and devastating strikes by Moscow.

- 

He was also due to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and then head to Italy, following the meeting at Ramstein Air Base, which comes days after 55 people were killed and 300 wounded in a Russian missile strike on the city of Poltava.

"We need more weapons to drive Russian forces off our land," Mr Zelensky said.

He also urged Kyiv's supporters to follow through on previous commitments, saying: "The number of air defence systems that have not been delivered is significant." And he again called for restrictions to be lifted on the use of longrange Western weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

"We need to have this long-range capability, not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine, but also on the Russian territory," Mr Zelensky said.

The meeting at the base southwest of Frankfurt is being hosted by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who announced that Washington will provide US$250 million (S$325 million) in new military aid for Ukraine.

The package "will surge in more capabilities to meet Ukraine's evolving requirements", Mr Austin told the meeting.

The assistance is expected to include ammunition for Himars precision rocket launchers, artillery rounds, anti-tank and anti-air weapons, a US defence official said on condition of anonymity.