Image source, Getty Images

The UK and Germany co-chaired the 27th Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Nato's headquarters in Brussels today.

Fifty nations took part in the meeting, after which it was announced that a further €21bn (£18bn, $24bn) in military aid would be allocated to Ukraine. The UK and Germany announced their support in more detail prior to the meeting.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Russia today to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff has already met with Putin twice since February.

In Ukraine, the wait is on to see whether Russia will be put under more American pressure to agree to a ceasefire as they are starting to run out of patience with their European allies, our Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse writes.

This all comes as Russian strikes on Ukraine continue, with the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying Russia is "escalating the war" and Russia accusing Ukraine of attacking its energy infrastructure five times in the last 24 hours.

We're now pausing our live coverage, but here are some more stories to keep you up-to-date:

• UK announces further £450m military support to Ukraine
• War has changed Zelensky - but now is the time for him to transform again
• Zelensky claims 155 Chinese fighting for Russia in Ukraine

Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, reporting from Brussels

Europe’s defence ministers still see no sign of an end to the war, despite US efforts to broker a ceasefire.

That’s why they’re now taking over the lead from America in providing weapons to Ukraine.

Germany’s Boris Pistorius, who co-chaired the meeting with the UK, said Russia was still not interested in peace. New pledges of military support included drones and air defences.

The UK’s Defence Secretary John Healey said it amounted to more than £18bn worth of weaponry and would send a strong signal to Russia.

Ukraine’s defence minister said the US was still providing security assistance but acknowledged that Europe was now taking the lead to keep the weapons flowing.

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, did attend the meeting – albeit virtually. He told allies America appreciated all the work “you guys” are doing.

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting, Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff has travelled to Russia today. There's been wide speculation he is there to meet Vladimir Putin.

Russian state media is now reporting the Kremlin has confirmed Witkoff's meeting with the Russian President, where they will discuss the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Witkoff's visit is an opportunity to convey "Russia's position" to Trump, but adds it will not be "momentous" and that no one should expect major breakthroughs.

It was earlier reported that Witkoff met Kirill Dmitriyev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, in St Petersburg.

The Russian Defence Ministry has accused Ukraine of attacking Russian energy infrastructure five times in the last 24 hours.

Both Ukraine and Russia agreed to stop attacks on each other's energy infrastructure in separate agreements made with the US last month. But since then, both sides have accused one another of violating the deal on several occasions.

The defence ministry said in a statement on Telegram that Ukrainian strikes had hit power facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, as well as energy targets in Russian-controlled parts of the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which Moscow has claimed as its own.

Bryansk Regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz said in a separate post on Telegram that Ukrainian strikes on the Khvoshchevskaya power facility today caused a high-voltage line to be disconnected, leaving some households without power supply.

The BBC is unable to verify these reports.

A week ago, the US's top diplomat said he will know "in a matter of weeks, not months" whether Vladimir Putin is serious about a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine.

Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up their attacks in recent weeks, despite attempts to bring them together to agree a deal.

Last month, Ukraine said it was ready to accept a US proposal for an initial 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has yet to make a decision.

Weeks later, following three days of talks in Saudi Arabia, separate agreements were made - one between the US and Russia, and another between the US and Ukraine - that aimed to put a pause on some fighting.

The countries agreed to stop attacks in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure. But the Kremlin issued a third document which implemented conditions that hadn't appeared in the initial document - including caveats on when the ceasefires would be implemented.

James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Kyiv

Ukraine is waiting to see whether Russia will be put under more American pressure to agree to a ceasefire.

Or at least hoping.

US President Donald Trump has rarely criticised the Kremlin, whereas President Zelensky has had to fall in line very much with Washington’s appetite for peace.

There is also a partial running out of patience here with Ukraine's European allies.

Despite the numerous summits, including the one today in Brussels, there is still minimal detail on how they plan to enforce a ceasefire in Ukraine.

There is still, as ever, zero confidence Russia would honour a ceasefire, unless it was comprehensive with the backing of America.

The talks continue, but we are no closer to a framework for how this war could be paused.

Image source, Reuters

Let's take a look back at the key lines from that press conference:

• The UK's Defence Secretary John Healey said Ukraine's allies had pledged €21bn (£18bn) in military aid - a record boost in funding to Ukraine
• Included in that figure is the UK's £4.5bn commitment for this year, which Healey says is its highest contribution yet
• Germany will be providing more than €11bn (£9.5bn) in aid until 2029 in addition to money already pledged, according to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius
• Pistorius said peace appeared out of reach in the immediate future because of Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine
• Healey noted that 2025 marked a critical moment in the war for governments and defence industries to step up their support
• Ukraine's Rustem Umerov said Europe was taking over from the US as a lead for security assistance
• But he insisted the United States was still a "prime partner" for Kyiv despite US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's absence (he took part virtually)

Umerov is asked a final brief question about US special envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Russia today.

Umerov responds saying US President Donald Trump wants a ceasefire, and that he hopes to soon hear from US counterparts soon about what the meeting achieves.

Image source, Reuters

Another German media outlet also asks about air defence - on how much today's announcement would be able to accommodate President Zelensky's request for a further 10 ballistic missile protection systems.

"How many systems can you provide Ukraine this year?" the journalist asks Pistorius.

Germany's defence minister replies that one system is required until the summer but in the long run Ukraine will need more.

He says Germany has already provided Patriot systems but cannot provide more at the moment, but adds that the government is looking to source further defence options from around the world.

Umerov has just been asked about Ukraine's request for more air defence.

He says Russia strikes them with hundred of different missiles daily.

We are working to find new systems that can deal with all the different types of aerial weapons, from ballistic to drones, he says.

Umerov then adds that a solution will be found and that "maximum" effort is being put into resolving this.

Image source, Reuters

The BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale asks Pistorius about US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth only appearing virtually and not in person. He also asks Umerov about the support Ukraine has from the United States.

Pistorius says Hegseth's presence wasn't a "matter of priorities, it's a matter of schedules".

"The most important part was that he took part", he says.

"In the weeks to come, we will see what will happen with US participation and US support", Pistorius adds, but says Europe should "take on more responsibility".

Umerov says that the US continues to be his country's "prime partner" and that they are still participating and "providing security assistance".

They also "took a lead" in the peace initiative, he adds.

The press conference has now ended.

Stay with us as we bring you the last questions and answers from the three defence ministers and analysis from our correspondents.

Image source, Reuters

Rustem Umerov begins by saying Russia is "ramping up its production" and does not seem to be willing to reach a peace deal.

He says Europe is taking over the lead for security assistance, to which he says Ukraine is thankful.

He adds that the US also participated in the meeting, which shows that it is continuing its security assistance and is "beside us".

Umerov then thanks all the nations for their contributions, and the UK and Germany for chairing today's meeting.

Healey goes on to accuse Vladimir Putin of rejecting every chance of peace.

He says Putin rejected President Donald Trump's plans for a full ceasefire, "continues to drag his feet", "delay negotiations" and his forces are continuing to fire on military and civilian targets in Ukraine.

Healey says 2025 is the critical year for this war.

"Now is the critical moment... for defence industries, militaries and governments to step up," he says, adding it's about sending a message to Ukraine that "we stand with you in the fight and in the peace".

Image source, Reuters

John Healey is speaking now and says the new pledges of military aid total more than €21bn - a record boost in funding to Ukraine.

He adds the UK's £4.5bn in funding this year is the highest contribution yet.

Pistorius continues by detailing additional help being offered by Germany - including "more than €11bn" (£9.5bn) in aid until 2029, in addition to money already pledged.

"Given Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must concede peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future," he says.

"Russia needs to understand that Ukraine is able to go on fighting", Germany's defence minister adds, adding that "we will support it".

"Ukraine can count on us," he says.

Pistorius then turns to the situation in Ukraine, saying Russia had continued to hit its neighbour with "unabated intensity".

He details several Russian attacks launched on Ukraine, saying one involved the death of many people, including nine children.

Pistorius adds these attacks demonstrate that Russia is "not yet interested in peace" and that Ukraine needs a strong military.

Only then can the negotiation process lead to a just and lasting peace, he says, adding Germany is delivering weapons systems and will learn from Ukraine's use of technology.

For context: Germany's Ministry of Defence earlier today detailed the support it will be providing Ukraine from the €11bn it is committing until 2029.

Image source, Reuters

Germany's Pistorius begins the press conference by turning to John Healey, his co-chair.

"I think we did a good job this morning," he says, adding that the group made "major progress today".

He says that the package of support "will have an impact on the battlefield for sure this year".

Pistorius adds the group of countries showed it was "vibrant, willing and capable to act".

We've just started hearing from the UK's John Healey, Germany's Boris Pistorius and Ukraine's Rustem Umerov.

You can follow the press conference from the three defence ministers by clicking Watch live at the top of the page.

We'll also be bringing you the key lines from - stay with us.

Image source, EPA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is only virtually joining the meeting in Brussels today, but we've just seen a post on X from him in which he says Ukraine's priority is air defence, and that it is "very important that our partners hear us".

"Ukrainians know how to be precise. We have already learned to shoot down a significant amount of Russia’s weapons of terror," he says.

"We just need to address the shortage of air defence systems to make our sky protection stronger. Our partners can help with this and also speed up the implementation of all agreements reached earlier," he adds.

"Patriots that remain unused in storage with our partners should be protecting lives."