Zelensky pushes for promised weapons as Russia advances

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky made a fresh appeal Friday for more weapons to counter the threat from advancing Russian forces in the east of the country and Moscow's devastating missile strikes.

He pressed his nation's case to allies meeting at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where Washington unveiled a new $250 million military aid package for Ukraine, and later in the day at an international forum on the Italian Lakes.

"We need more weapons to drive Russian forces off our land," said Zelensky, who also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday and is set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday.

The gatherings came as Moscow's forces advance in the Donbas region, with Russian President Vladimir Putin having declared on Thursday that capturing the eastern area was his "primary objective" in the conflict.

Zelensky urged Kiev's supporters to follow through on previous commitments. "The number of air-defense systems that have not been delivered is significant," he said.

He again called for restrictions to be lifted on the use of long-range Western weapons.

"We need to have this long-range capability, not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine but also on Russian territory," Zelensky said. In Italy, he assured his backers that the weapons would only be used to hit military targets.

Asked about Zelensky's appeal, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said: "I don't believe that one specific capability is going to be decisive. It's not just one thing, it's a combination of capabilities and how you integrate those capabilities to achieve objectives."

 Talks in Italy 

Zelensky arrived late Friday in Cernobbio, northern Italy, for the European House...