Fighting has ramped up in Ukraine but Russia’s artillery fire is down in some places by as much as 75 per cent.

 
U.S. and Ukrainian officials say its further evidence of Moscow’s increasingly weak position on the battlefield nearly a year into its invasion.

This follows the Pentagon confirming that the U.S. will begin training Ukrainian soldiers on the Patriot missile system on U.S. soil as early as next week.

Ninety to 100 Ukrainian soldiers will be trained at Fort Sill in Oklahoma on the Patriot, which is broadly seen as one of the most advanced and effective air defence systems.

Meanwhile NATO and the E.U. agreed Tuesday to “strengthen” support for Ukraine.

It comes after the Kremlin said that the U.S. and NATO are on “an indirect side” of the conflict.