Extract from ABC News
Russia is continuing to launch near-daily drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian towns and cities. (AP: Kateryna Klochko)
In short:
Western officials and analysts say Ukrainian forces have disrupted Russia's planned spring offensive and managed to retake territory.
But there has been no let up in Russia's strikes on Ukraine's cities and towns, with the latest strikes killing an eight-year-old boy on Tuesday.
What's next?
Fifty defence ministers have met to pledge more military support to Ukraine, with the UK alone sending 120,000 drones to the country.
The defence leaders of more than 50 countries say they are aiming to send more aid to Ukraine as the country attempts to capitalise on new battlefield momentum.
After more than four years of fighting Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine possesses battle-tested drone interceptor expertise and has developed groundbreaking air defence technology, but it lacks the money to scale up production to levels that would press its advantage.
Between November last year and March this year, Russia launched more than 27,000 drones at Ukraine.
In the latest strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, more than six areas of Ukraine behind the front line were hit as Russia launched 324 drones and three ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defences intercepted 309 of the drones.
The attacks killed an eight-year-old boy in the central Cherkasy region and a woman who was in a kiosk near a bus stop that was hit in southern Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and local officials.
Drone attacks destroyed this public transport stop in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday. (AP: Kateryna Klochko)
"Every day we need air defence missiles — every day Russia continues its strikes," Mr Zelenskyy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
Mr Zelenskyy is also championing joint weapons production agreements, including for drones and missiles, while pushing for the European Union to move quickly on providing a promised 90 billion euro ($148 billion) loan.
Russian spring-time offensive disrupted by Ukrainian drones
Defence leaders from about 50 nations who regularly gather to coordinate weapons aid for Kyiv held an online meeting on Wednesday, local time, chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and British Defence Secretary John Healey.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also attended.
Among those committing to the European nation's defence is Britain, which announced it will send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year.
Ukraine's war effort has gained momentum in recent weeks, according to Western officials and analysts.
Ukraine is establishing itself as a leader in drone war and air defences as its war with Russia continues. (Reuters:Stringer)
Its short-handed troops have disrupted Russia's spring offensive, thanks in part to drones and ground robots, and its long-range strikes have dented Russian oil exports and some manufacturing output.
Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday that last month Ukrainian troops recaptured nearly 50 square kilometres of territory from Russian forces.
Also in March, Ukrainian deep strike operations hit 76 Russian targets, including 15 oil refining facilities, he said.
'Cannot lose sight of Ukraine'
Despite those gains, clouds have also gathered as the Iran war drains stockpiles of advanced air defence missiles that Ukraine needs, and Kyiv’s money is running short.
At the meeting of defence ministers in Berlin, NATO chief Mark Rutte called on military alliance members to boost their backing of Ukraine by an extra $US60 billion.
Mr Rutte emphasised that "supporting Ukraine's fight is as important as ever", and said that "too few countries share too much of the burden".
"We cannot lose sight of Ukraine amid the Middle East conflict," he said.
"We have to ensure that we are capable of delivering uninterrupted support for Ukraine."
Mr Zelenskyy complained on Tuesday that US peace negotiators "have no time for Ukraine" amid the Middle East crisis.
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