Macron hosts summit seeking solutions for war-ravaged Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron is on Monday hosting an international conference in support of Ukraine as Russia's invasion enters its third year.

European leaders and ministers have been invited to the meeting to "study the available means" of reinforcing cooperation in support of Ukraine, Macron's office said.

"Two years after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, this working meeting will be an opportunity to study ways to boost the cooperation between partners in support to Ukraine."

French officials say Macron is determined to send a message to Moscow that there is no "Ukraine fatigue" in Europe despite fears over continued US support.

• EU leaders seal €50bn Ukraine aid deal after Hungary lifts veto

Search for solutions

Polish President Andrzej Duda told Polsat television that he would attend the conference "to discuss new propositions of solution and aid for Ukraine".

Ukraine has faced intense pressure on its eastern front in recent months as it grapples with ammunition shortages and hold-ups to much-needed Western military aid.

Russia has for months been ramping up arms production and driving massive human resources into its offensive, at what Kyiv says is an enormous human toll.

• France and Ukraine to sign security agreement during Zelensky's Paris visit

This meeting comes 10 days after Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky signed bilateral security agreements at the Elysée Palace in Paris.

The French President pledged to provide "up to three billion euros" of "additional military aid" to Kyiv this year, also announcing his intention to visit Ukraine "before mid-March".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country's victory "depends" on Western support and that he was "sure" the United States would approve a critical package of military aid.

The US Congress has so far refused to approve new funding for military aid to Kyiv, even as President Joe Biden expressed confidence that it will eventually do so.

Zelensky also said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in two years of war with Russia, in a rare admission of military losses.