"The era of peace in Europe is over,' Kyiv warns west

Ukraine's foreign minister praised US politicians yesterday for approving a long-delayed military aid package but said western allies needed to recognise that "the era of peace in Europe is over" and that Kyiv would inevitably need more help to fight off Russia.

- Dan Sabbagh and Luke Harding 

As Joe Biden signed the bill that will provide $61bn (£52bn) in military aid for Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba said: "Hallelujah." However, he warned that the west needed to build up its defence industry further.

Speaking to the Guardian, Kuleba said he was hopeful the White House would unveil a package of weapons "within days, maybe hours" and it was "just a matter of logistics" to get the supplies to the frontline.

Pentagon officials have indicated that some munitions are already stockpiled in Europe, with artillery and air defences expected to be among the priorities.

Kuleba also said Ukraine had identified seven Patriot air defence systems it could use to protect civilians in major cities outside Kyiv. One had been obtained from Germany, while four more had been located and negotiations were taking place, Kuleba said, adding that two more were in his sights.

Press reports indicated that Greece and Spain were considering whether to supply Patriots, while Poland and Romania also own the batteries.

Kuleba said an eighth system could come from the US, saying: "I think the US army probably has one spare.

"I'm in no doubt, given the progress we are making, that Patriots will arrive, and Germany must be commended for making the first move."

Cities such as Kharkiv, which has been repeatedly bombed this year with residents having moved away in fear, could "live in peace and their industrial production continue", he said, as long as Ukraine's allies adopted a more hard-headed approach to helping his country.

Kuleba said Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, had discussed the military aid package with Biden on Monday.

The foreign minister said Ukraine's allies should switch from "expressing condolences and sympathy to Ukrainians and promising to help with recovery, to preventing loss of life and destruction of the country".