Ukraine allies urged to raise $60B defense aid, focus on air defense systems

A high-stakes appeal has emerged as Ukraine's allies face the task of allocating $60 billion in defense assistance this year. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte emphasized the urgency at a gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. His remarks carried weight, pointing to the escalating costs of Russia's invasion and the frontlines where Ukraine continues to batter Russian forces, reportedly inflicting monthly losses that dwarf historic Soviet casualties during the decade-long war in Afghanista