Fourth conference on Ukraine reconstruction comes as Russia escalates attacks on country, amid doubts over US support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has opened a conference in Italy on rebuilding his war-battered country, as it comes under relentless ground and air attacks from Russia.
The Rome gathering will see the Ukrainian leader hold a flurry of meetings on Thursday, including a video call with leaders from about 30 countries in the so-called “coalition of the willing“, as he seeks to secure financing to bolster his country’s defences, which were this week strained by Russia’s largest missile and drone attack in more than three years of war.
Spelling out his country’s needs at the conference, Zelenskyy said the focus was on “more air defence supplies” and “investments in interceptor drones, air defence systems, and missiles”.
The United Kingdom and France are spearheading talks among the “coalition of the willing” on how to support a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, including potentially deploying peacekeeping forces to police any future peace agreement with Russia. This week, the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the call would cover “stepping up support for Ukraine and further increasing pressure on Russia”.
