Ukraine and Germany sign anti-ballistic agreement as tensions escalate

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a new anti-ballistic defense agreement between Ukraine and Germany during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein. Zelenskyy called on Western allies to increase support to secure results by winter, specifically requesting long-range artillery and drones. During the event, discussions also addressed the provision of air defense systems via NATO’s PURL program. Simultaneously, Zelenskyy confirmed that recent drone strikes on Moscow were a retaliatory response to Russian attacks on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery. Moscow regional governor Andrey Vorobyov reported that 16 people were injured in these strikes, which also targeted a major oil refinery. Zelenskyy emphasized that these actions aim to show the Russian public that President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the conflict. The Ukrainian President urged the US and Europe to maintain pressure on the Russian leadership.