Remilitarisation and support for Ukraine must not slacken, US tells Europe

Comments in virtual meeting aimed at securing 300 Patriot missiles for Kyiv come as UK commits £100m for Ukraine’s air defences

The US undersecretary of defence, Elbridge Colby, told European countries they “must not slacken” in their remilitarisation and their backing for Ukraine in a virtual meeting aimed at securing 300 Patriot interceptors for Kyiv.

The influential Pentagon official praised Ukraine’s recent “stout defence”, which he said proved that Europe was capable of leading the defence of its own continent from Russian aggression rather than relying on the US.