Zelenskiy urges speedy help from allies as Russia pounds Ukraine’s east

Ukraine urged allies to speed up the pace of military help as NATO defence ministers prepared to meet for a second day on Wednesday and Russia bombarded the eastern front line in what appeared to be the early salvoes of a new offensive.
Much of Russia’s artillery fire was focused on Bakhmut, a bombed-out city in Donetsk province and a principal target for President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian troops there have fortified positions in anticipation of street fighting.
Bakhmut’s capture would provide a stepping stone for Russia to advance on two bigger Donetsk cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and give Moscow momentum after months of battlefield setbacks following its invasion last February.
NATO defence ministers began two days of talks in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the war and stockpiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was in a hurry to achieve as much as it could with its latest push before Ukraine and its allies could gather strength.