US warns allies to prepare for prolonged Ukraine war

08 September 2026 20:18 US Undersecretary of Defence Elbridge Colby has warned allies to prepare for a prolonged war in Ukraine, as Russia is strengthening its forces and expanding production. Colby told the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) that the end of this tragic war is unpredictable, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euroactiv. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also backed the call for increased support, warning that 'delays simply cost human lives'. 'Nations must dig deeper. We do not have a choice, I believe,' he said, urging allies to step up their assistance to Ukraine. The warnings came as the UK and Germany unveiled new military aid packages for Ukraine, with both countries placing a strong emphasis on air defence ahead of the winter. The UK will provide £100 million (€116 million) to meet Ukraine's urgent military needs, including Patriot missiles and other air-defence equipment. The funding will be delivered through NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), with the equipment expected to reach Ukraine before winter. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting made clear that Britain 'won't flinch' in its support for Ukraine. London is also maintaining its pledge to supply more than 120,000 drones this year, including interceptor, reconnaissance and attack drones. Around 25,000 have already been delivered. Germany, meanwhile, will supply urgently needed Patriot PAC-2 missiles and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles from Bundeswehr stocks, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stressed, while calling on other members of the UDCG to make similar contributions. Berlin will also continue supplying IRIS-T air-defence systems and guided missiles, while financing several tens of thousands of long-range artillery rounds to be delivered through the UK. Pistorius said Russia was increasingly targeting Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian sites as its territorial gains on the battlefield remained limited. He also warned that Russian air attacks were likely to intensify as temperatures drop. Ukraine estimates that it needs around 300 Patriot interceptors to withstand the expected winter campaign. According to Ukrainian Defence Minister Evgeniy Khmara, Kyiv was contracting thousands of Patriot missiles, but deliveries were not expected until next year. Khmara called on allies to provide Patriot systems from their existing stockpiles in the meantime, saying Ukraine was prepared to replace or replenish those systems once its contracted missiles arrive. By Bakhtiyar Abbasov