Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, many NATO countries had fallen short of meeting the alliance’s munitions-stockpiling targets.

Some analysts had doubted the wisdom of Ukraine holding out in Bakhmut because it could hurt the chances of its expected spring offensive.

The Donetsk region is partially occupied by Russia and Moscow wants to occupy it fully. However, neither side has made a decisive gain for weeks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived to the European Parliament to rapturous applause, cheering and hoots from legislators, insisting Ukraine’s fight was one fought for Europe’s freedom.

Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness in the last six months and will train a further 20,000 soldiers this year, the government said.

In his Monday evening address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said personnel changes on the border and frontline would bolster Ukraine’s military efforts.

The Russians again fired at targets across the Dnieper River from the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, damaging residential buildings and power lines.

He accused the West of trying to turn former Soviet states including Moldova and Georgia into Russia’s enemies, and of undermining its relations with Central Asia.

It would mean every inch of Russian-occupied Ukraine, apart from most of the Crimea peninsula, could soon be in range of Ukrainian forces.