Washington and Berlin pledged more aid for Ukraine as allies of the embattled nation gathered with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky at the US military's Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday to discuss aid.

Germany will provide Ukraine with additional IRIS-T guided missiles for air-defence systems at short notice, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced at a meeting at the US Ramstein Air Base in western Germany on Thursday.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has blocked an air defence package worth €3 billion (£2.5 billion) for Ukraine in one of his last key decisions before the election, according to German media reports.

Tensions with Russia continue to escalate as the Ukrainian president shifts tactics and asks allies for help on the ground.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country, however powerful.

Formed in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has ballooned to 50-plus member nations and has overseen the transfer of $126 billion worth of weapons and equipment, making it one of the largest arms transfers in history.

The plans will focus on Ukraine's air force, drone programs and air defense capabilities, among other parts of Kyiv's military, a U.S. defense official said.

Baerbock emphasized that such actions by Russia endanger security in Europe. “Russia jeopardizes our European security not only with its aggressive war against Ukraine, which violates international law,

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will again call on allies to boost its air defenses at this week's meeting in Germany, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes over later this month with a vow to end the almost three-year war quickly.

The German government was at odds over whether to approve three billion euros ($3.1 billion) of new military aid, the Spiegel weekly reported Friday, as Kyiv seeks to rally support ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House.