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Weapons from a new US aid package for Ukraine have begun arriving on the front line.
After a year of political stalemate in the US, President Joe Biden approved military support worth almost $61bn (£49bn) in April.
What new military aid is being sent to Ukraine?
Ahead of a visit to Kyiv by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a senior official said Ukraine had started to receive weapons to meet its “most pressing needs, particularly with an eye towards Russia’s activities right now”.
Of the $61bn worth of aid being provided, at least $8bn (£6.5bn) will be used to re-supply Ukraine with missiles and ammunition.
In May, the US Department of Defense said this would include extra munitions for Patriot air defence systems, more Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).
The supply of US weapons to Ukraine dried up in early 2024 because a bill to grant more aid was delayed in Congress.
After the Senate finally passed the legislation in April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the commitment “reinforces America’s role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world”.
Separately, the UK is sending an extra £500m on top of the £2.5bn in military aid it had already pledged to give Ukraine in 2024.
The EU failed to meet its target of sending a million shells to Ukraine by the beginning of March.
However, the Czech Republic agreed a $1.5bn deal for a group of 18 Nato and EU countries to buy 800,000 rounds – both 155mm and 122mm calibre – from outside the EU.
How much military aid has previously been supplied to Ukraine?
Germany gave Ukraine weapons and equipment worth $10.7bn, the UK $5.7bn, Denmark $5.2bn, and the Netherlands $4.1bn.
What arms shortages is Ukraine facing, and how are they affecting the war?
Before the latest aid package was approved, the US had warned that Ukraine’s military was running short on munitions and morale was low.
These would allow Ukraine to “counter Russia’s glide bombs, which [Moscow] is using to pound defensive positions and civilian targets like power stations,” says Dr Marina Miron, of King’s College London.
Ukraine has lost large areas of territory in the east of the country to Russian forces since October 2023, largely because of a lack of artillery.
It blamed shortages for the loss of the town of Avdiivka in February.
The resumption of US ammunition supplies means Ukraine could start using more artillery shells from its stocks, says Justin Crump, of risk intelligence company Sibylline.
“Ukrainian forces have been rationing shell use because they haven’t been able to tell when new supplies are coming,” he says.
What weapons have Western countries given Ukraine?
Western countries responded to Russia’s invasion in February 2022 by giving Ukraine’s armed forces defensive weapons, to counter Russia’s armoured brigades.
The US and UK supplied thousands of Javelin and Nlaw anti-tank missiles.
These were considered crucial in stopping the advance of Russian forces on Kyiv.
To counter Russian air superiority, and its attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, Western nations have sent Ukraine several types of air defence system.
These range from the UK’s short-range anti-aircraft weapon, Starstreak, to the Patriot missile system.
The US and Norway have also provided the Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) for air defence, and Germany has offered the Iris-T.
After Russia’s retreat from Kyiv, the war became focused on the east of the country. Artillery and missiles were heavily used by both sides.
Australia, Canada, the US and others sent M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine.
The US and UK also provided missile systems including Himars, and the M270 MLRS.
Ukraine has also received long-range missiles such as Scalp from France, Storm Shadow from the UK and ATACMS from the US.
Tanks
In early 2023, Western nations agreed to send tanks to Ukraine.
It was hoped they would enable Ukraine to breach Russian defensive lines.
The UK provided the Challenger 2.
The US sent 31 Abrams tanks, and European nations have sent several German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
The US-built M1 Abrams has been described as the most advanced tank in the world.
However, none of this new armour enabled Ukraine to make a major breakthrough in its counter-offensive.
Drones
Drones have featured heavily throughout the war, for surveillance, targeting, launching missiles and as “kamikaze” weapons.
Turkey supplied missile-firing Bayraktar TB2 drones at the start of the war, the US has provided “Switchblade” kamikaze drones, and several countries have sent commercial surveillance drones, such as the Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3.
Fighter jets
Ukraine has consistently asked the US for fighter jets, to counter Russia’s air superiority.
In May 2023, President Joe Biden agreed to let other nations supply it with US-made F-16s. Denmark and the Netherlands offered to donate planes.
Ukrainian pilots have been learning how to fly them in 11 Western countries.