After weeks of pressure on the government to meet Kyiv's demands, Germany announced, it will send anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine. The development took place whilst a meeting organised by the US between Nato and EU allies is underway.
The decision comes even after Putin warned earlier that the countries' support for Kyiv could escalate the conflict with "unpredictable consequences".
Germany’s defence minister, Christine Lambrecht, said Germany would "look into all possibilities how we can further support Ukraine in its courageous and important fight for freedom and for peace".
Ministers from 40 countries are gathering at the US Ramstein air base in south-west Germany to try to speed up shipments to help Ukraine.
"Nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's imperial aggression," told US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. "Ukraine clearly believes that it can win, and so does everyone here."
Explosions in Transdniestria, a breakaway Russian-controlled territory in Moldova, raised fears that the Ukraine conflict may be spreading.
Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries and home to many ethnic Ukrainians, is not in Nato or the EU.
Moldova's president said a series of attacks on Tuesday were an attempt by factions within the territory to increase tensions.
A view of toppled Pridnestrovian radio centre antennas, also known as "Grigoriopol transmitter", following the blasts, near Maiac, Grigoriopol, in Moldova's self-proclaimed separatist Transdniestria region, photo released on April 26, 2022. Transdniestrian Interior Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
Russia has had troops permanently based in Transdniestria since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kyiv fears the region could be used as a launch pad for new attacks on Ukraine.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for a ceasefire in Ukraine ahead of talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin later.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, welcomes U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the talks in Moscow, AP
Guterras and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow today.
Lavrov complained that Western involvement in Ukraine had been used as a foothold to limit, control and aggravate Russia and assured said Russia would work with the UN to protect civilians.
Guterres said he had held "frank discussions" with Lavrov and repeated the UN's view that the war was a violation of the integrity of Ukraine's territory and against the UN charter.
-BBC/Reuters/AP