Ukrainian protesters outside NATO HQ in Brussels

Ukrainian protesters gathered outside the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday as the alliance's defence ministers are gathering to discuss the war in Ukraine. The protesters held up Ukrainian flags and banners to urge NATO to do more to help their country counter Russia's attack.

One protester asked for the Ukrainian "skies to be closed" through a no-fly zone and called for the delivery of fighter jets and weapons that could help the Ukrainian army. As Russia's offensive pressed closer to Ukraine's seat of government, missiles and artillery slammed into high-rise apartment towers in Kyiv on Wednesday, setting buildings ablaze and leaving smoke hanging over the capital and its suburbs.

Russian forces escalated their bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the city of Kharkiv and besieged port of Mariupol, intensifying the war's humanitarian toll and leaving cities smoldering. The NATO ministers are not expected to make new announcements regarding the alliance's help to Ukraine, as today's meeting is aimed at organising a long-term response to Russia.