Overview

• In Washington, a Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yuliya Sviridenko and presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak met Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to discuss Patriot air‑defense missiles and long‑range Tomahawk capabilities, with Volodymyr Zelensky expected to see President Donald Trump on October 17.
• Trump said he has practically made a decision on supplying Tomahawks to Kyiv but wants clarity on intended use and consultations, while Russian officials warn such a transfer would mark a serious escalation given the missile’s variants.
• NATO defense ministers convened in Brussels to advance alliance readiness and deterrence, review progress on new capability goals set in The Hague, and address topics including the Eastern Sentinel program, drone risks, and military support for Ukraine.
• Russia’s Defense Ministry said the ‘Dnepr’ grouping destroyed up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen in the past day and knocked out multiple artillery systems—two U.S.-made M777 howitzers and a Bohdana SPG—along with an electronic warfare station and an ammunition depot in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said U.S. State Department and National Security Council professionals view positively Moscow’s proposal to keep New START numerical limits beyond February 2026, while noting no leader‑level U.S.–Russia talks are planned and consultations continue.